Assembly Bill 163
The authority to shoot a beaver or muskrat causing damage to a highway
Became law
The governor signed it on Jul 8, 2021. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Mar 16, 2021
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jun 22, 2021
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Jun 23, 2021
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2021 Wisconsin Act 62
Latest entry in the official record, Jul 8, 2021: “Published 7-9-2021”
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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
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 current law, the Department of Natural Resources may remove or authorize the removal of a wild animal that is causing damage or that is causing a nuisance. This bill specifies that “damage” includes flooding and culvert blockages caused by a beaver or muskrat.
Under current law, generally, the DNR removal of a wild animal may involve capturing, shooting, setting a trap for, relocating, or otherwise destroying or disposing of the wild animal. However, current law generally prohibits anyone from discharging a firearm within 50 feet of the center of a roadway. This bill adds an exception to this prohibition for DNR or an agent of a city, village, town, or county authorized by DNR to shoot a beaver or muskrat that is causing damage to a highway in which the roadway is located if the discharge does not pose a risk to public safety.
Who's behind it
12 representatives are its . All 12 are Republicans.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 17 names Hide the names
Authors (12)
- Calvin Callahan · Republican, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Tony Kurtz · Republican, Assembly
- Gae Magnafici · Republican, Assembly
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Donna Rozar · Republican, Assembly
- Ken Skowronski · Republican, Assembly
- Travis Tranel · Republican, Assembly
- Nancy VanderMeer · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (5)
- Julian Bradley · Republican, Senate
- Mary Felzkowski · Republican, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Rob Stafsholt · Republican, Senate
- Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate
How lawmakers voted
There were 2 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Transportation vote to recommend it
Passed, 12 to 1 · Jun 15, 2021
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, Ayes 12, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 5 to 0 · Jun 22, 2021
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 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Jul 8, 2021
The new law was published.
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Jul 8, 2021
The governor signed it. It became 2021 Wisconsin Act 62.
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Jul 2, 2021
Sent to the governor.
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Jun 23, 2021
The Senate passed it too.
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Jun 22, 2021
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Jun 22, 2021
The Senate received it.
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Jun 22, 2021
The Assembly passed it.
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Jun 15, 2021
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jun 15, 2021
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 12 to 1.
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Apr 27, 2021
The committee held a public hearing.
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Mar 16, 2021
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.
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Mar 16, 2021
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Mar 16, 2021 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Edming, Skowronski, Callahan, Knodl, Kurtz, Magnafici, Moses, Mursau, Rozar, Tranel, VanderMeer and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Stafsholt, Bradley, Felzkowski, Marklein and Stroebel
- Mar 16, 2021 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation
- Apr 27, 2021 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- May 19, 2021 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jun 15, 2021 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation, Ayes 12, Noes 1
- Jun 15, 2021 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 6-22-2021 by Committee on Rules
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 22, 2021 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jun 22, 2021 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Jun 22, 2021 · Senate
Placed on calendar 6-23-2021 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jun 23, 2021 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jun 23, 2021 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 23, 2021 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Jun 23, 2021 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Jun 23, 2021 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 23, 2021 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Jun 24, 2021 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 6-24-2021
- Jul 2, 2021 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 7-2-2021
- Jul 8, 2021 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 7-8-2021. 2021 Wisconsin Act 62
- Jul 8, 2021 · Assembly
Published 7-9-2021
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