Wisconsin companies that are certified as Qualified New Business Ventures (QNBV) will have more incentive to stay in the state after the QNBV law was amended on April 10, the Wisconsin Technology Council announced today.

According to a release, Assembly Bill 759 allows startups that acquire or merge with another company outside the state a year to remain in compliance with the 51% employment in Wisconsin rule.

“Wisconsin companies, particularly those that attract angel and venture capital, cannot compete by doing business in Wisconsin alone,” Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still said in a statement. “We are grateful that Gov. Evers signed this bill to keep companies growing in Wisconsin and avoid a risk of them being ‘poached’ by other states.”

The law was originally established in 2018. The amendment was passed unanimously in both the Assembly and the Senate.