Skip to content
Bills from the 2011–12 session

Senate Bill 194

Operating certain three-vehicle combinations on the highways

Topics: Recreation vehicle, Road, Transportation, Department of: Vehicles

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

    Sep 20, 2011

  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, Mar 23, 2012: “Failed to pass pursuant to ⁠”

Read the bill

Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.

What it would have done

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

Current law generally prohibits any person from operating a vehicle on a highway while towing two or more vehicles unless an exception applies or the operator holds an appropriate permit issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT may issue annual or consecutive month permits for certain three-vehicle combinations that consist of the following vehicles:

1. A towing vehicle.

Read the full summary

2. A recreational vehicle or camping trailer.

3. A trailer for a personal recreational vehicle.

Under current law, the overall length of the combination of vehicles may not exceed 60 feet or, if the middle vehicle in the three-vehicle combination is equipped with brakes, 65 feet. Unless it is not structurally possible, the lighter of the towed vehicles must occupy the last position in the three-vehicle combination. The towed vehicles must be for the use of the operator of the towing vehicle. A three-vehicle combination may not be operated if specified highway or weather conditions are present.

This bill modifies the requirements for operation of these three-vehicle combinations and allows their operation without a permit. The bill allows a person to operate, without a permit, a three-vehicle combination consisting of the following:

1. A towing vehicle.

2. A recreational vehicle or camping trailer.

3. Another recreational vehicle or camping trailer, or a trailer carrying any vehicle for recreational use or carrying no load. A "vehicle for recreational use" is defined to include a bicycle, moped, motor bicycle, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, snowmobile, boat, sailboard, personal watercraft, or electric personal assistive mobility device, but does not include an automobile, motor truck, motor home, play vehicle, or in-line skates.

Under the bill, the heavier of the towed vehicles must occupy the middle position of the three-vehicle combination unless it is not structurally possible. The overall length of the combination of vehicles may not exceed 65 feet and, if the total loaded weight of all towed vehicles exceeds 3,000 pounds, one of the towed vehicles must be equipped with brakes. The bill does not modify current law restrictions on the operation of three-vehicle combinations under specified highway or weather conditions.

Who's behind it

2 senators are its ⁠. All 2 are Republicans.

5 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 7 names

Authors (2)

Signed on in support (5)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

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 Transportation and Elections vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Oct 13, 2011

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

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

What happened

  1. Mar 23, 2012

    The session ended, and the bill died with it.

  2. Oct 13, 2011

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

  3. Sep 30, 2011

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  4. Sep 28, 2011

    The committee held a public hearing.

  5. Sep 20, 2011

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections.

  6. Sep 20, 2011

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Sep 20, 2011 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Lazich and Galloway;Cosponsored by Representatives Petrowski, Bernier, Brooks, Spanbauer and Mursau

  2. Sep 20, 2011 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Elections

  3. Sep 28, 2011 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Sep 30, 2011 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Oct 13, 2011 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. Oct 13, 2011 · Senate

    Report introduction and adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Transportation and Elections, Ayes 5, Noes 0 by committee on Transportation and Elections

  7. Oct 13, 2011 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Transportation and Elections, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  8. Oct 13, 2011 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  9. Mar 23, 2012 · 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

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. 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.

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

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

Author

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

Official term: Author, coauthor

Signed on in support

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

Official term: Cosponsor

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

Roll call

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

Official term: Roll call vote