Senate Bill 637
The regulation of nonconforming buildings in a floodplain. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 4, 2020. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Jan 8, 2020
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 19, 2020
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 20, 2020
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2019 Wisconsin Act 175
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 4, 2020: “Published 3-4-2020”
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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.
Under this bill, if modifications made to a nonconforming building bring the building into conformity with federal standards under federal laws relating to floodplain land use, the Department of Natural Resources may not prohibit further modifications based on cost.
Current law prohibits any person from placing or maintaining any structure, building, fill, or development within any floodplain in violation of a floodplain zoning ordinance adopted by a county, city, or village or by a Department of Natural Resources order or determination. Current law prohibits a county, city, or village under a floodplain zoning ordinance from permitting the repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a nonconforming building if the nonconforming building, after repair, reconstruction or improvement, will fail to meet any minimum requirement applicable to a nonconforming building under the federal statutes and regulations governing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Under DNR rule, a nonconforming building is an existing lawful building that is not in conformity with the dimensional or structural requirements of a floodplain zoning ordinance for the area of the floodplain that it occupies.
Read the full summary Show less
Current DNR rule prohibits the modification or addition to a nonconforming building that over the life of the building would exceed 50 percent of its present equalized assessed value unless the entire building is permanently changed to a conforming building with a conforming use in compliance with DNR rules. Under this bill, if, as a result of the repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a nonconforming building, the entire building is permanently changed to be a conforming building in compliance with the applicable requirements under the federal statutes and regulations governing NFIP, DNR may not prohibit further repair, reconstruction, or improvement of that building based on cost.
Who's behind it
7 senators are its . All 7 are Republicans.
9 more lawmakers .
See all 16 names Hide the names
Authors (7)
- David Craig · Republican, Senate
- Chris Kapenga · Republican, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate
- Patrick Testin · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (9)
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Cody Horlacher · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- Loren Oldenburg · Republican, Assembly
- Treig Pronschinske · Republican, Assembly
- Travis Tranel · Republican, Assembly
- Ron Tusler · Republican, Assembly
- Nancy VanderMeer · Republican, Assembly
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 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Utilities and Housing vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 10, 2020
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Utilities and Housing, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Utilities and Housing vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 10, 2020
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Utilities and Housing, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 4, 2020
The new law was published.
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Mar 4, 2020
The governor signed it. It became 2019 Wisconsin Act 175.
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Feb 28, 2020
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 20, 2020
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 20, 2020
“Read” (the official wording)
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Feb 20, 2020
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 19, 2020
The Senate passed it.
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Feb 19, 2020
The Senate adopted it.
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Feb 10, 2020
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Feb 10, 2020
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Utilities and Housing, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Feb 4, 2020
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 23, 2020
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 8, 2020
Sent to the Senate Committee on Utilities and Housing.
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Jan 8, 2020
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 8, 2020 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Marklein, Craig, Kapenga, Olsen, Nass, Stroebel and Testin; cosponsored by Representatives Pronschinske, Oldenburg, Dittrich, Horlacher, Knodl, Novak, Tranel, Tusler and VanderMeer
- Jan 8, 2020 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Utilities and Housing
- Jan 23, 2020 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 28, 2020 · Senate
- Feb 4, 2020 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 6, 2020 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 10, 2020 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Utilities and Housing, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 10, 2020 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Utilities and Housing, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 10, 2020 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 14, 2020 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-19-2020 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Read
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 21, 2020 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 25, 2020 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Feb 28, 2020 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 2-28-2020
- Mar 4, 2020 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-3-2020. 2019 Wisconsin Act 175
- Mar 4, 2020 · Senate
Published 3-4-2020
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