Senate Bill 178
Fences on closed managed forest land
Became law
The governor signed it on Aug 2, 2017. It's .
-
Introduced, passed
Apr 13, 2017
-
Committee, passed
Approved
-
Senate vote, passed
Passed Jun 14, 2017
-
Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jun 14, 2017
-
Governor, passed
Signed
-
Law, here now
2017 Wisconsin Act 43
Latest entry in the official record, Aug 2, 2017: “Published 8-3-2017”
Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.
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, the prohibition on a fence that prevents the free and open movement of wild animals across managed forest land (MFL) does not apply if the fence is used for dog training on closed MFL owned by a nonprofit organization that holds a dog club training license.
Under current law, certain forested land may be designated as MFL under a program administered by the Department of Natural Resources. Under this program, the owner of land designated as MFL makes an annual acreage share payment that is lower than, and in lieu of, the property taxes that normally would be payable. In exchange, the owner must comply with certain forestry practices and have a management plan prepared for the land. The owner must also open the MFL to the public for certain recreational activities, but may designate up to a certain number of acres as being closed to the public. For MFL that is designated as closed, the owner must make an additional payment per acre.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law, a parcel containing a building or an improvement associated with a building is ineligible for designation as MFL. A fence is not considered an improvement unless the fence prevents the free and open movement of wild animals across any portion of the parcel.
Who's behind it
4 senators are its . All 4 are Republicans.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 8 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate
- Patrick Testin · Republican, Senate
- Thomas Tiffany · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (4)
- Jesse Kremer · Republican, Assembly
- Scott Krug · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Travis Tranel · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Jun 7, 2017
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
-
Aug 2, 2017
The new law was published.
-
Aug 2, 2017
The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 43.
-
Aug 1, 2017
Sent to the governor.
-
Jun 14, 2017
The Assembly passed it too.
-
Jun 14, 2017
“Read” (the official wording)
-
Jun 14, 2017
The Assembly received it.
-
Jun 14, 2017
The Senate passed it.
-
Jun 7, 2017
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
-
Jun 1, 2017
The committee held a public hearing.
-
Apr 13, 2017
Sent to the Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining and Forestry.
-
Apr 13, 2017
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Apr 13, 2017 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Testin, Tiffany, Marklein and Stroebel; cosponsored by Representatives Mursau, Krug, Tranel and Kremer
- Apr 13, 2017 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining and Forestry
- Jun 1, 2017 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jun 7, 2017 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jun 7, 2017 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Jun 7, 2017 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jun 9, 2017 · Senate
Placed on calendar 6-14-2017 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jun 14, 2017 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jun 14, 2017 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 14, 2017 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Jun 14, 2017 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Jun 14, 2017 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 14, 2017 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jun 14, 2017 · Assembly
Read
- Jun 14, 2017 · Assembly
Rules suspended and taken up
- Jun 14, 2017 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jun 14, 2017 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 14, 2017 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jun 14, 2017 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Jun 14, 2017 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 15, 2017 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Jun 16, 2017 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Aug 1, 2017 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 8-1-2017
- Aug 2, 2017 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 8-2-2017. 2017 Wisconsin Act 43
- Aug 2, 2017 · Senate
Published 8-3-2017
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