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Bills from the 2011–12 session

Senate Bill 228

Placing, possessing, or transporting a firearm, bow, or crossbow in or on a vehicle or in or on a motorboat

Topics: Boat, Firearms and dangerous weapons, Game: Hunting, Motor vehicle: Regulation, Recreation vehicle

Became law

The governor signed it on Nov 4, 2011. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Oct 12, 2011

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Oct 20, 2011

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 65 to 31

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2011 Wisconsin Act 51

Latest entry in the official record, Nov 7, 2011: “Published 11-18-2011”

Read the bill

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What it does

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

Under current law, with some exceptions, no person may place, possess, or transport a firearm in or on a vehicle unless the firearm is encased and unloaded.

Under the bill, the firearm may be outside a case but must be unloaded. The bill allows a person to place or possess such a firearm that is loaded on a vehicle if the vehicle is stationary. The bill also defines "stationary," when referring to a vehicle, to include a vehicle with the motor running, if the vehicle is not moving. Under the bill, this definition also applies to stationary vehicles used by persons hunting with disabled hunter permits.

Read the full summary

Under current law, no person may operate an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) with a firearm, other than a handgun, in his or her possession unless the firearm is unloaded and encased. Under the bill, the firearm may be outside a case but must be unloaded.

Under current law, with some exceptions, no person may place, possess, or transport a bow or crossbow in or on a motorboat or a vehicle unless the bow or crossbow is unstrung or is encased. Under the bill, the bow or crossbow may be strung and outside a case, but a bow may not have an arrow nocked and a crossbow may not be cocked.

Under current law no person may operate an ATV with a bow in his or her possession unless the bow is unstrung or encased. The bill expands this provision to specifically include crossbows. Under the bill, a bow or crossbow may be strung and outside a case, but a bow may not have an arrow nocked and a crossbow may not be cocked.

Who's behind it

5 senators are its ⁠. 4 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.

13 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 18 names

Authors (5)

Signed on in support (13)

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 were 3 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 2 · Oct 19, 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 Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 5, Noes 2 by committee on Natural Resources and Environment”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 65 to 31 · Nov 3, 2011

See how each of the 96 representatives voted

D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican

Yes (65)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 65, Noes 31, Paired 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 60 to 36 · Nov 3, 2011

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

Official motion: “Assembly amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Nov 7, 2011

    The new law was published.

  2. Nov 4, 2011

    The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 51.

  3. Nov 4, 2011

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Nov 3, 2011

    The Assembly passed it too, 65 to 31.

  5. Oct 25, 2011

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Oct 25, 2011

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Oct 20, 2011

    The Senate passed it.

  8. Oct 20, 2011

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Oct 19, 2011

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 2.

  10. Oct 17, 2011

    The committee held a public hearing.

  11. Oct 12, 2011

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

  12. Oct 12, 2011

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Oct 12, 2011 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Moulton, Holperin, Kedzie, Galloway and Lazich;Cosponsored by Representatives Krug, Spanbauer, Bernier, Jacque, Endsley, Ripp, Kleefisch, Rivard, Stroebel, Tauchen, Mursau, Craig and Radcliffe

  2. Oct 12, 2011 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Natural Resources and Environment

  3. Oct 17, 2011 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Oct 18, 2011 · Senate

    LRB correction

  5. Oct 19, 2011 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. Oct 19, 2011 · Senate

    Report introduction and adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 5, Noes 2 by committee on Natural Resources and Environment

  7. Oct 19, 2011 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 5, Noes 2

  8. Oct 19, 2011 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  9. Oct 19, 2011 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 10-20-2011 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  10. Oct 20, 2011 · Senate

    Read a second time

  11. Oct 20, 2011 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 adopted

  12. Oct 20, 2011 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. Oct 20, 2011 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. Oct 20, 2011 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  15. Oct 20, 2011 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  16. Oct 25, 2011 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  17. Oct 25, 2011 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  18. Oct 27, 2011 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 11-1-2011 by committee on Rules

  19. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 offered by Representatives Molepske Jr, Danou, Hulsey, Milroy and Clark

  20. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 2 offered by Representatives Molepske Jr, Danou, Hulsey, Milroy and Clark

  21. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:11 A.M. on 11-03-2011 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 18

  22. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  23. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author

  24. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 2 withdrawn and returned to author

  25. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 3 offered by Representatives Molepske Jr, Danou, Clark and Milroy

  26. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 3 withdrawn and returned to author

  27. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 4 offered by Representatives Molepske Jr, Milroy, Clark and Danou

  28. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36

  29. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  30. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  31. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 65, Noes 31, Paired 2

  32. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  33. Nov 4, 2011 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  34. Nov 4, 2011 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled on 11-4-2011

  35. Nov 4, 2011 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 11-4-2011

  36. Nov 4, 2011 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 11-4-2011. 2011 Wisconsin Act 51

  37. Nov 7, 2011 · Senate

    Published 11-18-2011

Terms on this page

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act. 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

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act

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