Senate Bill 501
Agricultural emergency permits issued by the Department of Transportation for vehicles transporting oversize loads. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 9, 2014. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Jan 17, 2014
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 11, 2014
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 20, 2014
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2013 Wisconsin Act 216
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 9, 2014: “Published 4-9-2014”
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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, with limited exceptions, no person may operate upon a highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds certain statutory size or weight limits unless the person obtains a permit issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) or a local authority, as applicable. The generally applicable width limit on highways, without a permit, is 8 feet 6 inches, subject to numerous exceptions. The generally applicable height limit on highways, without a permit, is 13 feet 6 inches, subject to limited exceptions.
Current law allows DOT, upon determination by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection that an agricultural emergency exists, to issue permits (agricultural emergency permits) authorizing vehicles transporting any of the following loads to exceed the generally applicable width limitation of 8 feet 6 inches if the total outside width does not exceed 12 feet: 1) hay in bales; and 2) from September 15 to December 15 of each year, Christmas trees from the point of harvesting or staging to a Christmas tree yard or point of commercial shipment.
Read the full summary Show less
However, this authorization is limited to the operation of commercial motor vehicles on interstate highways.
This bill modifies the agricultural emergency permit issued by DOT. Under the bill, an agricultural emergency permit may also be issued for vehicles transporting baled straw, cornstalks, or stover if the straw, cornstalks, or stover is to be used for feed or bedding. Baled hay also may be transported under the permit only if the hay is to be used for feed or bedding. In addition, an agricultural emergency permit also authorizes the operation of vehicles up to 14 feet 6 inches tall and 12 feet 5 inches wide and is not limited to the operation of commercial motor vehicles on interstate highways.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Sheila Harsdorf · Republican, Senate
- Jerry Petrowski · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (4)
- Bob Kulp · Republican, Assembly
- John Murtha · Republican, Assembly
- Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
- Mandy Wright · Democrat, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Jan 21, 2014
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, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 9, 2014
The new law was published.
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Apr 9, 2014
The governor signed it. It became 2013 Wisconsin Act 216.
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Apr 7, 2014
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 28, 2014
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Feb 20, 2014
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 18, 2014
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Feb 13, 2014
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 13, 2014
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 11, 2014
The Senate passed it.
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Feb 6, 2014
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 21, 2014
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Jan 21, 2014
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 17, 2014
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs.
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Jan 17, 2014
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 17, 2014 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Petrowski and Harsdorf; cosponsored by Representatives Kulp, Murtha and Ripp
- Jan 17, 2014 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs
- Jan 21, 2014 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 21, 2014 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 21, 2014 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Jan 21, 2014 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 6, 2014 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 6, 2014 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-11-2014 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 11, 2014 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 11, 2014 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 11, 2014 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Feb 11, 2014 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Feb 11, 2014 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 13, 2014 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 13, 2014 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 13, 2014 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-18-2014 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 18, 2014 · Assembly
Representative Wright added as a cosponsor
- Feb 18, 2014 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Feb 18, 2014 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 18, 2014 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 20, 2014 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 20, 2014 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 21, 2014 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 28, 2014 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 6, 2014 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Apr 7, 2014 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 4-7-2014
- Apr 9, 2014 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 4-8-2014. 2013 Wisconsin Act 216
- Apr 9, 2014 · Senate
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
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