Assembly Bill 889 establishes the Wisconsin Climate Corps (WCC) program aimed at providing employment opportunities for workers to assist in the restoration of natural lands, climate resiliency projects, and energy efficiency initiatives in homes. The bill creates the Wisconsin Climate Corps Board, which will oversee the program and contract with a nonprofit corporation experienced in grant administration and natural resource management to manage the program. The bill mandates that at least 50% of the work crew members be from underserved populations and sets a minimum wage of $15 per hour, along with housing stipends and health insurance for workers. Additionally, it requires project sponsors to erect a permanent plaque at work sites to identify them as WCC projects.

The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the board and the contracted manager, including the development of project applications, approval of projects, and ensuring that projects do not displace existing state or local government employees. The program is designed to focus on specific goals within defined timeframes and allows various entities, including local and tribal governments, to sponsor projects. Furthermore, the Department of Administration is tasked with auditing the program annually and reporting to the legislature on project completions and ongoing efforts.