Senate Bill 395
Homemade wine and fermented malt beverages
Topics: Alcohol beverage: Regulation, Alcohol beverage: Taxation, Legislature: Tax Exemptions, Joint Survey Committee on, Municipality: Ordinance
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 3, 2012. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Jan 20, 2012
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed 32 to 1
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Mar 15, 2012
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 200
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 5, 2012: “Published 4-16-2012”
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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
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
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, a person is not required to hold a license or permit to make wine or fermented malt beverages (beer) at his or her home, farm, or place of residence if the wine or beer is to be consumed by the person or his or her family and guests and if the person receives no compensation. Also under current law, a person is not required to pay an occupational tax on wine or beer made at home solely for consumption at home by the person's family and guests, without compensation.
This bill significantly modifies the standards for the production and use of homemade wine and beer for which a license or permit is not required and for which occupational taxes are not owed. Under the bill, "homemade" wine and beer is wine and beer made by a person's own efforts and not for a commercial purpose, and is not limited to wine or beer made in the person's home. Under the bill, no license or permit is required for the making of homemade wine or beer, and the possession, transportation, or storage of homemade wine or beer, if all of the following apply: 1) the person who makes the wine or beer receives no compensation; 2) the wine or beer is not sold or offered for sale; and 3) the total quantity of wine or beer made by the person and any other person living in the same household does not exceed 100 gallons or 200 gallons per calendar year, depending on how many persons of legal drinking age live in the household. If wine or beer is made in compliance with these requirements, this homemade wine or beer may also be used, without any license or permit, for purposes of exhibition, demonstration, judging, tasting, or sampling or as part of a contest or competition (collectively "home maker's event").
Read the full summary Show less
The bill also allows a person, including an alcohol beverage retailer or other permit holder, to conduct, sponsor, or host, at a public or private place under the control of the person, a home maker's event if the person does not sell, or acquire any ownership interest in, the homemade wine or beer.
Under the bill, homemade wine or beer made in compliance with the requirements identified as items 1 to 3 above is exempt from the occupational tax.
Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill.
Who's behind it
6 senators are its . All 6 are Republicans.
17 more lawmakers .
See all 23 names Hide the names
Authors (6)
- Michael Ellis · Republican, Senate
- Glenn Grothman · Republican, Senate
- Sheila Harsdorf · Republican, Senate
- Neal Kedzie · Republican, Senate
- Mary Lazich · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (17)
- Penny Bernard Schaber · Democrat, Assembly
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Chris Taylor · Democrat, Assembly
- Tim Carpenter · Democrat, Senate
- Mark Honadel · Republican, Assembly
- Dean Kaufert · Republican, Assembly
- Steve Kestell · Republican, Assembly
- Dale Kooyenga · Republican, Senate
- Michelle Litjens · Republican, Assembly
- Sandy Pasch · Democrat, Assembly
- Mark Pocan · Democrat, Assembly
- Don Pridemore · Republican, Assembly
- Roys, Barca, Hebl, Richards, Milroy, Clark, Hulsey, Seidel, E. Coggs, Mason, Knilans, Vos, Bernier, Knudson, Kuglitsch, Weininger, Steineke, Kleefisch, Rivard, Bewley, Billings, Jacque, Bies and Petersen
- Richard Spanbauer · Republican, Assembly
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt · Republican, Assembly
- Karl Van Roy · Republican, Assembly
- Evan Wynn · Republican, Assembly
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 were 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Energy vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 7, 2012
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by committee on Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 32 to 1 · Feb 14, 2012
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (32)
- Alberta Darling (R, 8)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Dale Schultz (R, 17)
- Dave Hansen (D, 30)
- Frank G. Lasee (R, 1)
- Fred A. Risser (D, 26)
- Glenn Grothman (R, 20)
- Jennifer Shilling (D, 32)
- Jessica King (D, 18)
- Jim Holperin (D, 12)
- Joe Leibham (R, 9)
- Jon Erpenbach (D, 27)
- Julie M. Lassa (D, 24)
- Kathleen Vinehout (D, 31)
- Leah Vukmir (R, 5)
- Lena Taylor (D, 4)
- Luther S. Olsen (R, 14)
- Mark Miller (D, 16)
- Mary Lazich (R, 28)
- Michael Ellis (R, 19)
- Neal Kedzie (R, 11)
- Pam Galloway (R, 29)
- Rich Zipperer (R, 33)
- Rob Cowles (R, 2)
- Robert Jauch (D, 25)
- Sheila Harsdorf (R, 10)
- Spencer Coggs (D, 6)
- Terry Moulton (R, 23)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
- Timothy Cullen (D, 15)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
No (1)
- Scott L. Fitzgerald (R, 13)
Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 32, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 5, 2012
The new law was published.
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Apr 3, 2012
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 200.
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Mar 30, 2012
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 15, 2012
The Assembly passed it too.
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Mar 15, 2012
The Assembly adopted it.
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Mar 15, 2012
24 more representatives signed on in support.
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Mar 14, 2012
“Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)
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Mar 14, 2012
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Mar 14, 2012
The Senate adopted it.
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Feb 20, 2012
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 16, 2012
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 14, 2012
The Senate passed it, 32 to 1.
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Feb 7, 2012
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Feb 1, 2012
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jan 31, 2012
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 31, 2012
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 20, 2012
Sent to the Senate Committee on Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection.
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Jan 20, 2012
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 20, 2012 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Ellis, Lazich, Harsdorf, Wanggaard, Kedzie and Grothman;Cosponsored by Representatives Kaufert, Kooyenga, Brooks, Pasch, Kestell, Wynn, Thiesfeldt, Pocan, Pridemore, Spanbauer, C. Taylor, Van Roy, Honadel and Bernard Schaber
- Jan 20, 2012 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection
- Jan 31, 2012 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 31, 2012 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Feb 1, 2012 · Senate
Representative Litjens added as a cosponsor
- Feb 7, 2012 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 7, 2012 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 7, 2012 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 13, 2012 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-14-2012 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 14, 2012 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 14, 2012 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 14, 2012 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Feb 14, 2012 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 32, Noes 1
- Feb 14, 2012 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 16, 2012 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 20, 2012 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Mar 2, 2012 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 3-6-2012 by committee on Rules
- Mar 6, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 offered by Representatives Kaufert and Danou
- Mar 6, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 2 offered by Representative Kaufert
- Mar 6, 2012 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:59 A.M. on 3-13-2012 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 22
- Mar 14, 2012 · Senate
Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly amendment 1 adopted
- Mar 14, 2012 · Senate
Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly amendment 2 adopted
- Mar 14, 2012 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 14, 2012 · Senate
Senator Carpenter added as a coauthor
- Mar 14, 2012 · Senate
Rules suspended and taken up
- Mar 14, 2012 · Senate
Assembly amendment 1 concurred in
- Mar 14, 2012 · Senate
Assembly amendment 2 concurred in
- Mar 14, 2012 · Senate
Action ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Representatives Roys, Barca, Hebl, Richards, Milroy, Clark, Hulsey, Seidel, E. Coggs, Mason, Knilans, Vos, Bernier, Knudson, Kuglitsch, Weininger, Steineke, Kleefisch, Rivard, Bewley, Billings, Jacque, Bies and Petersen added as cosponsors
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 adopted
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 2 adopted
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in as amended
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 22, 2012 · Senate
LRB correction
- Mar 22, 2012 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 3-22-2012
- Mar 30, 2012 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 3-30-2012
- Apr 3, 2012 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 200
- Apr 5, 2012 · Senate
Published 4-16-2012
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
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
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
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
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