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Bills from the 2009–10 session

Senate Bill 5

Restrictions on the use and sale of fertilizer containing phosphorus and other turf fertilizer and providing a penalty

Topics: Fertilizer, Mercantile establishment, Sanitation and sewerage management

Stopped before the full Senate voted

The recommended passing it, but the full Senate never voted on it. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 15, 2009

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, stopped here

    Stopped here. The full Senate never voted on it.

  4. Assembly vote, not reached

  5. Governor, not reached

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 28, 2010: “Failed to pass pursuant to ⁠”

Read the bill

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What it would have done

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill generally prohibits the application of fertilizer that contains phosphorus to lawns, golf courses, and other mowed grassy areas (turf). The prohibition does not apply to land used for agricultural production. The prohibition also does not apply to the use of manure that is mechanically dried, ground, or pelletized, or to a finished sewage sludge product. The bill authorizes the use of fertilizer that contains phosphorus to establish grass during the first growing season. The bill also authorizes the application of fertilizer containing phosphorus to an area if a soil test shows that the soil in the area is deficient in phosphorus. The bill prohibits the application of fertilizer, manure that is mechanically dried, ground, or pelletized, and finished sewage sludge product to turf when the ground is frozen.

The bill also prohibits the intentional application of turf fertilizer, manure that is mechanically dried, ground, or pelletized, and finished sewage sludge product to an impervious surface and requires a person who spills any of these substances onto an impervious surface to immediately remove it.

Read the full summary

This bill prohibits the retail sale of turf fertilizer containing phosphorus unless the fertilizer is sold for one of the purposes for which it is authorized to be used. The bill prohibits a retailer from displaying turf fertilizer that contains phosphorus, but authorizes a retailer to post a sign stating that turf fertilizer containing phosphorus is available upon request for the purposes for which the bill allows it to be used.

Who's behind it

15 senators are its ⁠. 11 are Democrats and 4 are Republicans.

33 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 48 names

Authors (15)

Signed on in support (33)

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There was one vote on this bill.

Senate Committee on Environment vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 11, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Environment, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 28, 2010

    The session ended, and the bill died with it.

  2. Mar 24, 2009

    “Placed at the foot of the calendar of 3-24-2009” (the official wording)

  3. Mar 24, 2009

    1 more senator signed on in support.

  4. Mar 11, 2009

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  5. Mar 11, 2009

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Environment, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 11, 2009

    The committee held a public hearing.

  7. Jan 30, 2009

    1 more senator signed on in support.

  8. Jan 15, 2009

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Environment.

  9. Jan 15, 2009

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 15, 2009 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Miller, Cowles, Erpenbach, Hansen, Holperin, Hopper, Jauch, Kreitlow, A. Lasee, Lehman, Olsen, Risser, Sullivan, Wirch and Lassa;Cosponsored by Representatives Black, Bies, Ballweg, Benedict, Berceau, Clark, Dexter, Hebl, Hilgenberg, Hintz, Hixson, Hraychuck, Hubler, Jorgensen, Knodl, Mason, Molepske Jr., Mursau, Parisi, Pasch, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Richards, Roys, Sherman, Smith, Soletski, Tauchen, Van Roy, Wood and Spanbauer

  2. Jan 15, 2009 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Environment

  3. Jan 30, 2009 · Senate

    Senator Carpenter added as a coauthor

  4. Feb 11, 2009 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Mar 5, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 offered by Senators Miller and Olsen

  6. Mar 10, 2009 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  7. Mar 11, 2009 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Environment, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  8. Mar 11, 2009 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Environment, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  9. Mar 11, 2009 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  10. Mar 18, 2009 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-24-2009 by committee on Senate Organization

  11. Mar 24, 2009 · Senate

    Senator Vinehout added as a coauthor

  12. Mar 24, 2009 · Senate

    Placed at the foot of the calendar of 3-24-2009

  13. Mar 24, 2009 · Senate

    Read a second time

  14. Mar 24, 2009 · Senate

    Laid on the table

  15. Apr 28, 2010 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

Terms on this page

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

More in the glossary

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

More in the glossary

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1

More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis

More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary