Seed potato certification and use and providing penalties. (FE)

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill requires a person who plants five or more acres of potatoes in a year to use only seed potatoes that are certified by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-Madison under existing rules promulgated by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, or by an equivalent program in another state. The bill allows DATCP to waive the certification requirement if there are not enough certified seed potatoes reasonably available to growers. The bill also requires a person who grows five or more acres of potatoes in a year to keep certain records of each field of seed potatoes planted during a growing season.

A person who plants seed potatoes in violation of the certification requirements under the bill is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $150, plus $150 for each acre planted in violation. A person who violates the records-retention or inspection requirements under the bill is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $200.

Who's behind it

4 senators are its authors⁠. All 4 are Republicans.

8 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DATCP

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment Histories
• LC Amendment Memo