Senate Bill 557
Trading of water pollution credits, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation
Topics: Natural Resources, Department of: Environmental protection, Water: Pollution
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 26, 2012. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Mar 8, 2012
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed 33 to 0
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed 82 to 0
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 151
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 27, 2012: “Published 4-6-2012”
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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.
Generally, under current law, a person may not discharge pollutants into the waters of this state from a point source (such as a pipe) without a permit from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that specifies limits on the discharge of water pollutants. Current law requires DNR to administer at least one pilot project to evaluate the trading of water pollution credits. Under a pilot project, a person who is required to obtain a water pollution permit may be authorized to discharge more pollutants than would otherwise be allowed if the person reaches an agreement under which another person agrees to reduce the amount of water pollution that the other person causes or if the person reaches an agreement to provide money that DNR or a local government uses to reduce water pollution.
This bill requires DNR to administer a program, rather than at least one pilot project, for the trading of water pollution credits. In addition to providing for agreements as under current law, the bill provides that DNR may authorize a person who is required to obtain two water pollution permits to discharge more pollutants than would otherwise be allowed under one permit if the person agrees to reduce the amount of water pollution below what would otherwise be allowed under the second permit. The bill also provides that DNR may authorize a person to discharge more pollutants than would otherwise be allowed if the person agrees to construct a project or implement a plan that results in reducing water pollution from sources other than the permitted source.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law and under the bill, a water pollution credit trading agreement is only allowed if it results in an improvement in water quality and if the increase and the reduction involve the same pollutant or the same water quality standard. Under current law, a water pollution trading project may only be conducted within a project area that meets specified criteria. This bill eliminates the requirement concerning a project area, but requires that the increase and the reduction in pollution occur within the same water basin or portion of a water basin, as determined by DNR. Under current law, the term of a water pollution trading agreement may not exceed five years. This bill eliminates the restriction on the term of an agreement. Both current law and the bill require that trading of water pollution credits be conducted in accordance with the federal Water Pollution Control Act.
Who's behind it
Terry Moulton, a Republican, is its .
4 more lawmakers .
See all 5 names Hide the names
Author (1)
- Terry Moulton · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (4)
- Mike Endsley · Republican, Assembly
- Joe Knilans · Republican, Assembly
- Daniel LeMahieu · Republican, Assembly
- Richard Spanbauer · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There were 4 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment vote to recommend it
Passed, 7 to 0 · Mar 9, 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 Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 12, 2012
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Referred to joint committee on Finance by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 33 to 0 · Mar 13, 2012
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (33)
- 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)
- Scott L. Fitzgerald (R, 13)
- Sheila Harsdorf (R, 10)
- Spencer Coggs (D, 6)
- Terry Moulton (R, 23)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
- Timothy Cullen (D, 15)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 33, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 82 to 0 · Mar 15, 2012 · 17 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican
Yes (82)
- Alvin Ott (R, 3)
- Amy Loudenbeck (R, 31)
- Amy Sue Vruwink (D, 70)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Andy Jorgensen (D, 43)
- Barbara Toles (D, 17)
- Bill Kramer (R, 97)
- Bob Ziegelbauer (I, 25)
- Brett Hulsey (D, 78)
- Chad Weininger (R, 4)
- Chris Danou (D, 92)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Chris Taylor (D, 76)
- Cory Mason (D, 66)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Daniel LeMahieu (R, 59)
- David Craig (R, 28)
- Don Pridemore (R, 22)
- Donna Seidel (D, 85)
- Duey Stroebel (R, 20)
- Edward Brooks (R, 50)
- Fred Clark (D, 81)
- Frederick Kessler (D, 12)
- Gary Hebl (D, 46)
- Gary Tauchen (R, 6)
- Gordon Hintz (D, 54)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Janis Ringhand (D, 15)
- Jeff Fitzgerald (R, 39)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jeffrey Stone (R, 82)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R, 52)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Jim Ott (R, 23)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (D, 8)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- Joe Knilans (R, 44)
- Joel Kleefisch (R, 38)
- John Klenke (R, 88)
- John Nygren (R, 89)
- Jon Richards (D, 19)
- Josh Zepnick (D, 9)
- Karl Van Roy (R, 90)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- Keith Ripp (R, 42)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lee Nerison (R, 96)
- Leon Young (D, 16)
- Louis Molepske Jr. (D, 71)
- Margaret Krusick (D, 7)
- Mark Honadel (R, 21)
- Mark Pocan (D, 78)
- Mary Williams (R, 87)
- Michelle Litjens (R, 56)
- Mike Endsley (R, 26)
- Mike Kuglitsch (R, 84)
- Nick Milroy (D, 73)
- Pat Strachota (R, 58)
- Paul F. Farrow (R, 33)
- Penny Bernard Schaber (D, 57)
- Peter Barca (D, 64)
- Richard Spanbauer (R, 53)
- Robert Turner (D, 61)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Roger Rivard (R, 75)
- Samantha Kerkman (R, 61)
- Sandy Pasch (D, 10)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Scott Suder (R, 69)
- Sondy Pope (D, 80)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Steve Kestell (R, 27)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Terese Berceau (D, 77)
- Thomas Larson (R, 67)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Warren Petryk (R, 93)
Didn't vote (17)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Dan Meyer (R, 34)
- David Cullen (D, 13)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Dean Knudson (R, 30)
- Elizabeth Coggs (D, 10)
- Erik Severson (R, 28)
- Evan Wynn (R, 43)
- Garey Bies (R, 1)
- Jason Fields (D, 11)
- Jim Steineke (R, 5)
- John Murtha (R, 29)
- John Steinbrink (D, 65)
- Mark Radcliffe (D, 92)
- Tamara Grigsby (D, 18)
- Thomas Tiffany (R, 12)
- Tony Staskunas (D, 15)
Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 82, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 27, 2012
The new law was published.
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Mar 26, 2012
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 151.
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Mar 22, 2012
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 15, 2012
The Assembly passed it too, 82 to 0.
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Mar 13, 2012
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Mar 13, 2012
The Assembly received it.
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Mar 13, 2012
The Senate passed it, 33 to 0.
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Mar 12, 2012
“Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Mar 12, 2012
Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.
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Mar 12, 2012
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Mar 9, 2012
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.
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Mar 9, 2012
The committee held a public hearing.
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Mar 8, 2012
Sent to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
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Mar 8, 2012
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Mar 8, 2012 · Senate
Introduced by Senator Moulton;Cosponsored by Representatives Knilans, Endsley, Spanbauer and LeMahieu
- Mar 8, 2012 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Natural Resources and Environment
- Mar 9, 2012 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 9, 2012 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 9, 2012 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0
- Mar 9, 2012 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 12, 2012 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 12, 2012 · Senate
Referred to joint committee on Finance by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Mar 12, 2012 · Senate
Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Mar 12, 2012 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-13-2012 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 13, 2012 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 13, 2012 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 13, 2012 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Mar 13, 2012 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 33, Noes 0
- Mar 13, 2012 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 9:36 A.M. on 3-14-2012 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 24
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Read a second time
- 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, Ayes 82, Noes 0
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 19, 2012 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Mar 21, 2012 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 3-21-2012
- Mar 22, 2012 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 3-22-2012
- Mar 26, 2012 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-23-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 151
- Mar 27, 2012 · Senate
Published 4-6-2012
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