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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Senate Bill 605

Shining wild animals

Became law

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

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 22, 2016

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 16, 2016

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 18, 2016

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 249

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.

This bill expands an exception to the prohibition in current law on using, or possessing with intent to use, a light for shining wild animals between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. from September 15 to December 31 or while hunting or while in possession of a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow. The bill also removes wolves from the list of animals that may be hunted while using such a light. Under the bill, a person may possess or use at the point of kill a handheld flashlight or a battery operated light designed to be affixed to clothing or a part of the body or mounted to a firearm while hunting on foot for raccoons, foxes, coyotes, or other unprotected animals during the open season for the animals hunted.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its ⁠. All 3 are Republicans.

9 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 12 names

Authors (3)

Signed on in support (9)

How lawmakers voted

There was one vote on this bill.

Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 9, 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 Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. 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 249.

  3. Feb 25, 2016

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 18, 2016

    The Assembly passed it too.

  5. Feb 16, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Feb 16, 2016

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Feb 16, 2016

    The Senate passed it.

  8. Feb 9, 2016

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  9. Feb 2, 2016

    The committee held a public hearing.

  10. Jan 22, 2016

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry.

  11. Jan 22, 2016

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 22, 2016 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Tiffany, Marklein and LeMahieu; cosponsored by Representatives Katsma, R. Brooks, Czaja, Horlacher, T. Larson, A. Ott, Quinn, Steffen and Thiesfeldt

  2. Jan 22, 2016 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry

  3. Feb 2, 2016 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  5. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  6. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  7. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

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

  8. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  9. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  10. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  11. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  12. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  13. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  14. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  15. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 2:42 PM on 2-18-2016 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 29

  16. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  17. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  18. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  19. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  20. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  21. Feb 18, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  22. Feb 25, 2016 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  23. Feb 25, 2016 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 2-25-2016

  24. Mar 2, 2016 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-1-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 249

  25. 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

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