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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Assembly Bill 523

Replacement of certain nonconforming structures that are destroyed by vandalism or certain natural forces and manufactured home communities that are nonconforming uses

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 2, 2016. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Nov 13, 2015

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 9, 2016

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 16, 2016

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 223

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 2, 2016: “Published 3-2-2016”

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.

A legal nonconforming use is a land use that is generally prohibited by a zoning ordinance, but is permitted on a particular property because that use was legally ongoing at the property at the time that the ordinance prohibiting the use was enacted. Under current law, a zoning ordinance enacted by a municipality or county generally may not prohibit the continued legal nonconforming use of any building, premises, structure, or fixture (premises). However, the alteration or repair of, in excess of 50 percent of the assessed value, any existing premises to carry on any prohibited use within the district may be prohibited.

Under this bill, in counties, a licensed manufactured home community that is a legal nonconforming use continues to be a legal nonconforming use notwithstanding any repair or replacement of homes or infrastructure within the community.

Read the full summary

Also, under current law, restrictions that are contained in general city zoning ordinances may not prohibit the restoration of a nonconforming structure if the structure will be restored to the size, location, and use that it had immediately before the damage or destruction occurred, or impose any limits on the costs of the repair, reconstruction, or improvement if the nonconforming structure was damaged or destroyed on or after March 2, 2006, and the damage or destruction was caused by violent wind, vandalism, fire, flood, ice, snow, mold, or infestation.

This bill clarifies that these limitations on city zoning ordinances apply to the replacement of a nonconforming structure.

Who's behind it

5 representatives are its ⁠. All 5 are Republicans.

1 more lawmaker ⁠.

See all 6 names

Authors (5)

Signed on in support (1)

How lawmakers voted

There were 2 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Housing and Real Estate vote to recommend it

Passed, 8 to 0 · Jan 13, 2016

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 Housing and Real Estate, Ayes 8, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 15, 2016

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

Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 2, 2016

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 2, 2016

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 223.

  3. Feb 29, 2016

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 16, 2016

    The Senate passed it too.

  5. Feb 15, 2016

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 11, 2016

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

  7. Feb 10, 2016

    The Senate received it.

  8. Feb 9, 2016

    The Assembly passed it.

  9. Jan 13, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  10. Jan 13, 2016

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 8 to 0.

  11. Dec 10, 2015

    The committee held a public hearing.

  12. Nov 13, 2015

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Housing and Real Estate.

  13. Nov 13, 2015

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Nov 13, 2015 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Kleefisch, Jarchow, T. Larson, Murphy and Schraa; cosponsored by Senator Lasee

  2. Nov 13, 2015 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Housing and Real Estate

  3. Dec 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  4. Jan 7, 2016 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  5. Jan 13, 2016 · Assembly

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Housing and Real Estate, Ayes 8, Noes 0

  6. Jan 13, 2016 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  7. Feb 4, 2016 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-9-2016 by Committee on Rules

  8. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  9. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  10. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  11. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  12. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  13. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  14. Feb 10, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  15. Feb 11, 2016 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  16. Feb 11, 2016 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  17. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  18. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-16-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  19. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  20. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  21. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  22. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  23. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  24. Feb 17, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  25. Feb 25, 2016 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 2-25-2016

  26. Feb 29, 2016 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 2-29-2016

  27. Mar 2, 2016 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-1-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 223

  28. Mar 2, 2016 · Assembly

    Published 3-2-2016

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