Senate Bill 198
Weight limit exceptions for vehicles equipped with idle reduction technology or natural gas fuel systems. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Dec 4, 2017. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Apr 20, 2017
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Jun 14, 2017
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Nov 7, 2017
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2017 Wisconsin Act 85
Latest entry in the official record, Dec 4, 2017: “Published 12-1-2017”
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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.
This bill provides that heavy-duty vehicles with idle reduction technology and vehicles that operate on natural gas may exceed certain weight limits.
Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate on a highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds certain statutory weight limits unless the person obtains a permit issued by the Department of Transportation or a local authority.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law, a heavy-duty vehicle equipped with idle reduction technology may exceed statutory weight limits by 400 pounds or the weight of the idle reduction technology, whichever is less. This bill increases the amount by which these vehicles may exceed statutory weight limits to 550 pounds. This bill also provides that vehicles fueled primarily by natural gas may exceed statutory weight limits by an amount equal to the difference between the weight of the natural gas fuel system and a comparable diesel fuel system or 2,000 pounds, whichever is less.
Under current law, for any bill that establishes an exception to vehicle weight limits, DOT must prepare a report containing specified information within six weeks after the bill is introduced. This bill directs DOT not to prepare a report for this bill.
Who's behind it
4 senators are its . All 4 are Republicans.
6 more lawmakers .
See all 10 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Rob Cowles · Republican, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Jerry Petrowski · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (6)
- Peter Barca · Democrat, Assembly
- Scott Krug · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Kulp · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · May 17, 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 Transportation and Veterans Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Dec 4, 2017
The new law was published.
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Dec 4, 2017
The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 85.
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Nov 28, 2017
Sent to the governor.
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Nov 7, 2017
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Nov 7, 2017
The Assembly passed it too.
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Jun 20, 2017
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jun 14, 2017
The Assembly received it.
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Jun 14, 2017
The Senate passed it.
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May 17, 2017
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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May 16, 2017
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 3, 2017
The committee held a public hearing.
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Apr 20, 2017
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs.
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Apr 20, 2017
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Apr 20, 2017 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Petrowski, Cowles, Marklein and Olsen; cosponsored by Representatives Spiros, Ripp, Krug, Kulp and Mursau
- Apr 20, 2017 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs
- May 3, 2017 · Senate
Public hearing held
- May 16, 2017 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- May 17, 2017 · Senate
Executive action taken
- May 17, 2017 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- May 17, 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 20, 2017 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Nov 2, 2017 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 11-7-2017 by Committee on Rules
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Representative Barca added as a cosponsor
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 8, 2017 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Nov 10, 2017 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Nov 28, 2017 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 11-28-2017
- Dec 4, 2017 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 11-30-2017. 2017 Wisconsin Act 85
- Dec 4, 2017 · Senate
Published 12-1-2017
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
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