Assembly Bill 235
Exception from local levy limits for political subdivisions receiving certain utility aid payments. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Nov 21, 2019. It's .
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Introduced, passed
May 23, 2019
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jun 18, 2019
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Oct 8, 2019
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2019 Wisconsin Act 45
Latest entry in the official record, Nov 21, 2019: “Published 11-22-2019”
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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 creates a levy limit exception for political subdivisions that receive certain utility aid payments.
Generally under current law, local levy limits are applied to the property tax levies that are imposed by a political subdivision in December of each year. Current law prohibits any political subdivision from increasing its levy by a percentage that exceeds its “valuation factor," which is defined as the greater of either zero percent or the percentage change in the political subdivision's equalized value due to new construction, less improvements removed.
Read the full summary Show less
Current law contains a number of exceptions to the levy limit, such as amounts a county levies for a countywide emergency medical system, for a county children with disabilities education board, and for certain bridge and culvert construction and repair. In addition, a political subdivision may exceed the levy limit that is otherwise applicable if its governing body adopts a resolution to do so and if that resolution is approved by the electors in a referendum.
Also under current law, if a power plant that is exempt from property taxes is decommissioned or closed, and therefore becomes taxable, the county and municipality where the plant is located receive a utility aid payment from the state for the first five years in which the plant is subject to the property tax in an amount equal to a percentage of the utility aid payment that the county or municipality received for the last year in which the plant was exempt. The percentage decreases by 20 percent each year.
This bill creates a levy limit exception for a political subdivision that is receiving these utility aid payments. The amount that is exempt from the levy limit is equal to the full amount of the utility aid in the first year less the amount of the utility aid to be paid to the political subdivision in the year in which the levy is imposed.
Who's behind it
4 representatives are its . All 4 are Republicans.
2 more lawmakers .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Samantha Kerkman · Republican, Assembly
- Pat Snyder · Republican, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (2)
- Tod Ohnstad · Democrat, Assembly
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
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 were 5 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities vote to recommend it
Passed, 13 to 1 · Jun 6, 2019
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 Energy and Utilities, Ayes 13, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Oct 4, 2019
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Referred to joint committee on Finance by Committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Oct 4, 2019
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Oct 4, 2019
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 32 to 1 · Oct 8, 2019
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (32)
- Alberta Darling (R, 8)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Feyen (R, 20)
- Dave Hansen (D, 30)
- David Craig (R, 28)
- Devin LeMahieu (R, 9)
- Duey Stroebel (R, 20)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Janis Ringhand (D, 15)
- Jeff Smith (D, 31)
- Jennifer Shilling (D, 32)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Jon Erpenbach (D, 27)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- LaTonya Johnson (D, 6)
- Lena Taylor (D, 4)
- Luther S. Olsen (R, 14)
- Mark Miller (D, 16)
- Patrick Testin (R, 24)
- Patty Schachtner (D, 10)
- Rob Cowles (R, 2)
- Roger Roth (R, 19)
- Scott L. Fitzgerald (R, 13)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Thomas Tiffany (R, 12)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
No (1)
- Fred A. Risser (D, 26)
Official motion: “CONCURRENCE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Nov 21, 2019
The new law was published.
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Nov 21, 2019
The governor signed it. It became 2019 Wisconsin Act 45.
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Nov 15, 2019
Sent to the governor.
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Oct 10, 2019
“Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)
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Oct 8, 2019
The Assembly adopted it.
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Oct 8, 2019
The Senate passed it too, 32 to 1.
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Oct 8, 2019
The Senate adopted it.
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Oct 4, 2019
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Oct 4, 2019
“Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Oct 4, 2019
Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.
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Jun 24, 2019
Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.
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Jun 18, 2019
The Senate received it.
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Jun 18, 2019
The Assembly passed it.
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Jun 12, 2019
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jun 6, 2019
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jun 6, 2019
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 13 to 1.
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May 30, 2019
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 28, 2019
The committee held a public hearing.
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May 23, 2019
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities.
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May 23, 2019
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- May 23, 2019 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Kerkman, Snyder, Spiros and Steffen; cosponsored by Senator Wanggaard
- May 23, 2019 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities
- May 28, 2019 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- May 30, 2019 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jun 4, 2019 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jun 6, 2019 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Energy and Utilities, Ayes 13, Noes 1
- Jun 6, 2019 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Jun 12, 2019 · Assembly
Representative Ohnstad added as a coauthor
- Jun 13, 2019 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 6-18-2019 by Committee on Rules
- Jun 18, 2019 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jun 18, 2019 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 18, 2019 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jun 18, 2019 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Jun 18, 2019 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 18, 2019 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jun 24, 2019 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization
- Jun 24, 2019 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Oct 4, 2019 · Senate
Referred to joint committee on Finance by Committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Oct 4, 2019 · Senate
Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Oct 4, 2019 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Oct 4, 2019 · Senate
Placed on calendar 10-8-2019 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Read a second time
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 32, Noes 1
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 8, 2019 · Assembly
Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted)
- Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in
- Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly
Action ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 16, 2019 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 10-16-2019
- Nov 15, 2019 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 11-15-2019 by directive of the Speaker
- Nov 21, 2019 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 11-21-2019. 2019 Wisconsin Act 45
- Nov 21, 2019 · Assembly
Published 11-22-2019
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