Senate Bill 478
Requirements for automatic fire suppression systems at certain buildings on fairgrounds
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 2, 2016. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Dec 29, 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 240
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.
Under this bill, certain buildings on fairgrounds are not required to have automatic fire suppression systems. Current law allows the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to impose requirements on buildings for fire safety purposes. This bill prohibits DSPS from requiring a county or organized agricultural society, association, or board to install or maintain an automatic fire suppression system for a building on fairgrounds that satisfies the following two requirements.
First, the building must be open to the public only for seasonal or temporary event use for fewer than 500 hours per year. Second, public access to the building must be provided by garage style doors that remain open when the building is open to the public.
Read the full summary Show less
The bill also prohibits a city, village, or town from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that requires a county or organized agricultural society, association, or board to install or maintain an automatic fire suppression system for a building on county fairgrounds that satisfies the above requirements. If a city, village, or town has in effect on the effective date of the bill an ordinance with such a requirement, the bill provides that the requirement does not apply and may not be enforced.
Who's behind it
3 senators are its . All 3 are Republicans.
13 more lawmakers .
See all 16 names Hide the names
Authors (3)
- Terry Moulton · Republican, Senate
- Thomas Tiffany · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (13)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Kathleen Bernier · Republican, Senate
- David Craig · Republican, Senate
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Cody Horlacher · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- John Macco · Republican, Assembly
- John Murtha · Republican, Assembly
- Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Swearingen · Republican, Assembly
- Thomas Larson · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
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 was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Agriculture vote to recommend it
Passed, 9 to 0 · 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 Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism, Ayes 9, 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 240.
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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 20, 2016
The Senate adopted it.
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Jan 15, 2016
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 0.
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Jan 13, 2016
The committee held a public hearing.
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Dec 29, 2015
Sent to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism.
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Dec 29, 2015
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Dec 29, 2015 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Moulton, Tiffany and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Bernier, Tittl, Ballweg, Knodl, Horlacher, T. Larson, A. Ott, E. Brooks, Ripp, Murtha, Craig, Swearingen and Macco
- Dec 29, 2015 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism
- Jan 13, 2016 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 13, 2016 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 15, 2016 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism, Ayes 9, Noes 0
- 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
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Moulton
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- 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 240
- 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