Senate Bill 381
The age restriction for operation of a small utility terrain vehicle
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 2, 2016. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Nov 12, 2015
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Jan 20, 2016
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 16, 2016
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2015 Wisconsin Act 210
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
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.
This bill defines "small utility terrain vehicle," creates an exception from the prohibition on a person under the age of 16 operating a utility terrain vehicle (UTV), and increases the allowable engine size for a small all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
Under current law, a person may not operate, rent, or lease a UTV unless he or she is at least 16 years of age. An exception is made if the person is operating the UTV for an agricultural purpose and he or she is under the supervision of a person over 18 years of age. This bill defines "small utility terrain vehicle" as a UTV that has four wheels and that has either an engine certified by the manufacturer at not more than 200 cubic centimeters or an equivalent power unit. Under this bill, a person under the age of 16 but at least 12 years of age may operate a small UTV on an ATV trail designated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) if he or she is accompanied by by his or her parent or guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law, a person who is at least 16 years of age and who was born on or after January 1, 1988, may not operate a UTV without a valid safety certificate.
Under this bill, a person who is at least 12 years of age and who was born on or after January 1, 1988, may not operate a UTV without a valid safety certificate. Under current law, subject to limited exceptions, no person under 12 years of age may operate an ATV. An exception is made for a person operating a small ATV on an ATV trail designated by DNR if the person is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian. "Small all-terrain vehicle" is defined as an ATV that has four wheels and that has either an engine certified by the manufacturer at not more than 90 cubic centimeters or an equivalent power unit. This bill increases the allowable engine size for a small ATV from 90 cubic centimeters to 130 cubic centimeters.
Who's behind it
4 senators are its . 3 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
20 more lawmakers .
See all 24 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Sheila Harsdorf · Republican, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Jerry Petrowski · Republican, Senate
- Janis Ringhand · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (20)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Kathleen Bernier · Republican, Senate
- Mary Czaja · Republican, Assembly
- Chris Danou · Democrat, Assembly
- Steve Doyle · Democrat, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Gannon · Republican, Assembly
- Cody Horlacher · Republican, Assembly
- Adam Jarchow · Republican, Assembly
- Robb Kahl · Democrat, Assembly
- Joel Kleefisch · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Scott Krug · Republican, Assembly
- Beth Meyers · Democrat, Assembly
- Nick Milroy · Democrat, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Swearingen · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs vote to recommend it
Passed, 4 to 1 · Jan 15, 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 Transportation and Veterans Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1”. 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 210.
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Feb 25, 2016
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 16, 2016
The Assembly passed it too.
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Jan 25, 2016
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 21, 2016
The Assembly received it.
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Jan 20, 2016
The Senate passed it.
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Jan 15, 2016
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 1.
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Jan 7, 2016
The committee held a public hearing.
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Nov 12, 2015
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs.
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Nov 12, 2015
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Nov 12, 2015 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Harsdorf, Olsen, Petrowski and Ringhand; cosponsored by Representatives Jarchow, Bernier, Czaja, Edming, Gannon, Horlacher, Kleefisch, Knodl, Krug, Mursau, A. Ott, Quinn, Ripp, Swearingen, Tittl, Danou, Doyle, Kahl, Meyers and Milroy
- Nov 12, 2015 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs
- Jan 7, 2016 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 14, 2016 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 15, 2016 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1
- Jan 15, 2016 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 19, 2016 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-20-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 21, 2016 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jan 25, 2016 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-16-2016 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 17, 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 210
- 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
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote