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Bills from the 2013–14 session

Assembly Bill 258

Maintenance and removal of vegetation obstructing the view of outdoor advertising signs along highways under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 8, 2014. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jun 28, 2013

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Oct 8, 2013

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 18, 2014

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2013 Wisconsin Act 231

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 8, 2014: “Published 4-9-2014”

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, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for maintenance of the highway right-of-way on highways that, for maintenance purposes, are under its jurisdiction, which are generally state trunk highways (including interstate highways) but do not include connecting highways. DOT must provide for the care and protection of trees and other roadside vegetation. DOT must also cut, trim, or remove, or allow others to cut, trim, or remove, trees and other vegetation in order to provide safety to highway users. Current law generally prohibits a person from cutting, trimming, removing, or planting a tree or other vegetation within the right-of-way of a state trunk highway without DOT's consent.

The federal Highway Beautification Act requires states to restrict advertising along interstate and federal-aid primary highways, which includes state trunk highways and connecting highways, and current state law incorporates these requirements. Current law prohibits, with certain exceptions, the erection or maintenance of outdoor advertising signs (signs) within 660 feet of, or beyond 660 feet but visible (and erected for the purpose of being visible) from, the main-traveled way of an interstate or federal-aid primary highway. Exceptions to this prohibition include, with some restrictions, signs advertising activities conducted on the property on which the signs are located; signs located beyond 660 feet of the highway in urban areas; and signs located within 660 feet of the highway in certain business, industrial, or commercial areas.

Read the full summary

Under current law, DOT administers a permit system for the maintenance and removal by sign owners of vegetation obstructing the view of signs along state trunk highways, including interstate highways. With limited exceptions, DOT issues permits to sign owners for the trimming or removal of vegetation in the highway right-of-way if, for a distance of 500 continuous feet within the 1,000-foot distance motorists travel immediately before reaching the sign, the vegetation obstructs the view of any portion of the face of the sign. A permit authorizes the sign owner, or a third-party contractor employed by the sign owner, to trim or remove obstructing vegetation to the extent necessary to eliminate the obstruction and restore an unobstructed view of the sign for a distance of 500 continuous feet along the highway.

A permit must specify the vegetation or the portion of the highway right-of-way to which the permit applies. A permittee that removes vegetation with a diameter of four inches or more must plant replacement vegetation to compensate for the vegetation removed. DOT must determine where the replacement vegetation is to be planted, but it must be planted in the highway right-of-way within ten miles of the location where the vegetation was removed.

This bill eliminates the requirement that a permittee that removes vegetation with a diameter of four inches or more must plant replacement vegetation. Instead, the bill requires the permittee to compensate DOT $140, adjusted annually for inflation, for each tree removed that has a diameter of four inches or more. The permittee must retain a certified arborist to determine the number of qualifying trees removed, for purposes of calculating payment to DOT.

The bill also specifies that a permit for the trimming or removal of vegetation applies with respect to a sign erected along the highway on the opposite side of the direction of travel if the sign face is visible and intended to be viewed from the direction of travel (known as a "cross-vista" sign).

Who's behind it

16 lawmakers are its ⁠. 14 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats.

3 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 19 names

Authors (16)

Signed on in support (3)

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 6 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Transportation vote to recommend it

Passed, 12 to 1 · Sep 5, 2013

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 Transportation, Ayes 12, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 55 to 41 · Oct 8, 2013

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 55, Noes 41”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Transportation vote on an amendment

Passed, 4 to 1 · Feb 13, 2014

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 Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Transportation vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 13, 2014

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

Official motion: “Report concurrence as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 19 to 13 · Feb 18, 2014 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 66 to 29 · Feb 20, 2014

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 66, Noes 29”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 8, 2014

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 8, 2014

    The governor signed it. It became 2013 Wisconsin Act 231.

  3. Apr 7, 2014

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 20, 2014

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  5. Feb 18, 2014

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Feb 18, 2014

    The Assembly adopted it.

  7. Feb 18, 2014

    The Senate passed it too, 19 to 13.

  8. Feb 18, 2014

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Feb 13, 2014

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  10. Feb 13, 2014

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1” (the official wording)

  11. Feb 4, 2014

    The committee held a public hearing.

  12. Oct 9, 2013

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs.

  13. Oct 9, 2013

    The Senate received it.

  14. Oct 8, 2013

    The Assembly passed it.

  15. Oct 8, 2013

    “Placed at the foot of the calendar of 10-8-2013” (the official wording)

  16. Sep 5, 2013

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  17. Sep 5, 2013

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 12 to 1.

  18. Aug 23, 2013

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  19. Aug 13, 2013

    The committee held a public hearing.

  20. Jun 28, 2013

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.

  21. Jun 28, 2013

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jun 28, 2013 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Honadel, Ballweg, Bernier, Bies, Brooks, Doyle, Jacque, Kolste, T. Larson, LeMahieu, A. Ott, Ripp, Spiros, Stone, Thiesfeldt and Weatherston; cosponsored by Senators Tiffany, Farrow and Hansen

  2. Jun 28, 2013 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation

  3. Aug 13, 2013 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  4. Aug 23, 2013 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Aug 27, 2013 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  6. Sep 5, 2013 · Assembly

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation, Ayes 12, Noes 1

  7. Sep 5, 2013 · Assembly

    Referred to Committee on Rules

  8. Oct 3, 2013 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 10-8-2013 by Committee on Rules

  9. Oct 3, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Bernard Schaber and Riemer

  10. Oct 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Placed at the foot of the calendar of 10-8-2013

  11. Oct 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  12. Oct 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 55, Noes 41

  13. Oct 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  14. Oct 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  15. Oct 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  16. Oct 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  17. Oct 9, 2013 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  18. Oct 9, 2013 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs

  19. Jan 30, 2014 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Tiffany

  20. Feb 4, 2014 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  21. Feb 12, 2014 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  22. Feb 13, 2014 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1

  23. Feb 13, 2014 · Senate

    Report concurrence as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  24. Feb 13, 2014 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  25. Feb 17, 2014 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-18-2014 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  26. Feb 18, 2014 · Senate

    Read a second time

  27. Feb 18, 2014 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  28. Feb 18, 2014 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  29. Feb 18, 2014 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  30. Feb 18, 2014 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  31. Feb 18, 2014 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  32. Feb 18, 2014 · Assembly

    Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate amendment 1 adopted)

  33. Feb 18, 2014 · Assembly

    Read and referred to committee on Rules

  34. Feb 18, 2014 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-20-2014 by Committee on Rules

  35. Feb 20, 2014 · Assembly

    Senate Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 66, Noes 29

  36. Feb 20, 2014 · Assembly

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  37. Mar 4, 2014 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-4-2014

  38. Apr 7, 2014 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 4-7-2014

  39. Apr 8, 2014 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-8-2014. 2013 Wisconsin Act 231

  40. Apr 8, 2014 · Assembly

    Published 4-9-2014

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

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