Senate Bill 314
Adverse possession against the state or a political subdivision. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 2, 2016. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Oct 14, 2015
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Jan 12, 2016
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 9, 2016
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2015 Wisconsin Act 219
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 2, 2016: “Published 3-2-2016”
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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 this bill, a person may not obtain title to or an interest in real property belonging to the state or a political subdivision based on adverse possession or use.
In other words, this bill prohibits adverse possession and prescriptive easements against real property owned by the state or a political subdivision. The bill provides that this prohibition applies retroactively to adverse possession or use that began before the effective date of the bill, but does not apply to a person who obtained title to or an interest in the real property based on adverse possession or use on or before the effective date of the bill.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law, a person may obtain title to or an interest in real property belonging to the state or a political subdivision only if the person adversely possesses or uses the property for more than 20 years and the claim is based on a continuously maintained fence line which has been mutually agreed upon by the land owners.
Who's behind it
6 senators are its . 3 are Democrats and 3 are Republicans.
23 more lawmakers .
See all 29 names Hide the names
Authors (6)
- Rob Cowles · Republican, Senate
- Chris Kapenga · Republican, Senate
- Julie M. Lassa · Democrat, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Mark Miller · Democrat, Senate
- Janis Ringhand · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (23)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Terese Berceau · Democrat, Assembly
- Jill Billings · Democrat, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Gannon · Republican, Assembly
- Dianne Hesselbein · Democrat, Senate
- LaTonya Johnson · Democrat, Senate
- Robb Kahl · Democrat, Assembly
- Terry Katsma · Republican, Assembly
- Frederick Kessler · Democrat, Assembly
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- Sondy Pope · Democrat, Assembly
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
- Mike Rohrkaste · Republican, Assembly
- Melissa Sargent · Democrat, Assembly
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
- Ken Skowronski · Republican, Assembly
- Mark Spreitzer · Democrat, Senate
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, 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 Government Operations and Consumer Protection vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Dec 18, 2015
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 Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Dec 18, 2015
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 2, 2016
The new law was published.
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Mar 2, 2016
The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 219.
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Feb 25, 2016
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 9, 2016
The Assembly passed it too.
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Jan 15, 2016
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 12, 2016
The Assembly received it.
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Jan 12, 2016
The Senate passed it.
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Jan 12, 2016
The Senate adopted it.
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Jan 11, 2016
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Dec 18, 2015
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Dec 18, 2015
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Nov 24, 2015
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Nov 18, 2015
The committee held a public hearing.
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Oct 14, 2015
Sent to the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection.
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Oct 14, 2015
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Oct 14, 2015 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Marklein, Cowles, Kapenga, Lassa, Miller and Ringhand; cosponsored by Representatives R. Brooks, Sargent, Berceau, Billings, Edming, Gannon, Hesselbein, Johnson, Kahl, Katsma, Kessler, Kitchens, Murphy, Novak, A. Ott, Pope, Ripp, Rohrkaste, Sinicki, Skowronski, Steffen and Subeck
- Oct 14, 2015 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection
- Nov 18, 2015 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Nov 24, 2015 · Senate
Representative Spreitzer added as a cosponsor
- Dec 2, 2015 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Marklein
- Dec 17, 2015 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Dec 18, 2015 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Dec 18, 2015 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Dec 18, 2015 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 11, 2016 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 11, 2016 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-12-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 12, 2016 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 12, 2016 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 12, 2016 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 12, 2016 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Jan 12, 2016 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Jan 12, 2016 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jan 15, 2016 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 4, 2016 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-9-2016 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 10, 2016 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 25, 2016 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Feb 25, 2016 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 2-25-2016
- Mar 2, 2016 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-1-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 219
- Mar 2, 2016 · Senate
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
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