Skip to content
Bills from the 2021–22 session

Senate Bill 563

Farm-raised game bovids. (FE)

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Mar 31, 2022. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Sep 15, 2021

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Oct 25, 2021

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Jan 20, 2022

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Mar 31, 2022.

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, May 17, 2022: “Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82”

Read the governor's veto message · All vetoes this session

Read the bill

Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.

What it would have done

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

This bill makes numerous changes so that farm-raised game bovids are treated in the same manner as farm-raised deer. The bill defines “farm-raised game bovid” as animals kept in captivity to be hunted that are members of the taxonomic family bovidae, which includes animals more commonly known as bison, buffalo, sheep, goats, and antelopes.

Under current law, there are many requirements and restrictions relating to wild animals, including those relating to hunting, killing, possessing, transporting, selling, serving, and stealing wild animals. However, these requirements and restrictions generally do not apply to farm-raised deer. The bill exempts farm-raised game bovids from these requirements and restrictions and specifically allows the hunting of farm-raised game bovids without a license.

Read the full summary

The bill requires farm-raised game bovids to be fenced in the same manner as farm-raised deer other than white-tailed deer. The bill also treats farm-raised game bovids in the same manner as farm-raised deer for the purpose of sales taxes;

farmland preservation and the purchase of agricultural conservation easements;

various trade regulation provisions, such as the misrepresentation of animal breeds;

disease control, with the exception that farm-raised game bovids are not required to be tested for chronic wasting disease; premises registration; voluntary tagging;

indemnity payments for condemned animals; animal market licensing;

slaughtering; and the seizure and disposal of escaped animals.

Who's behind it

2 senators are its ⁠. All 2 are Republicans.

6 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 8 names

Authors (2)

Signed on in support (6)

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 3 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Oct 21, 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 Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 20 to 12 · Oct 25, 2021 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Sporting Heritage vote to recommend it

Passed, 9 to 4 · Jan 18, 2022

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Sporting Heritage, Ayes 9, Noes 4”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. May 17, 2022

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Mar 31, 2022

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Mar 28, 2022

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Jan 20, 2022

    The Assembly passed it too.

  5. Jan 18, 2022

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Jan 18, 2022

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 4.

  7. Dec 6, 2021

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Sporting Heritage.

  8. Nov 1, 2021

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  9. Oct 25, 2021

    The Assembly received it.

  10. Oct 25, 2021

    The Senate passed it, 20 to 12.

  11. Oct 25, 2021

    The Senate adopted it.

  12. Oct 21, 2021

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  13. Oct 19, 2021

    The committee held a public hearing.

  14. Oct 19, 2021

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  15. Oct 5, 2021 to Oct 12, 2021

    1 more representative and 1 senator signed on in support.

  16. Sep 29, 2021

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  17. Sep 23, 2021 to Sep 27, 2021

    2 more representatives signed on in support.

  18. Sep 15, 2021

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues.

  19. Sep 15, 2021

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Sep 15, 2021 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Testin and Felzkowski; cosponsored by Representatives Mursau and Edming

  2. Sep 15, 2021 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues

  3. Sep 23, 2021 · Senate

    Representative Knodl added as a cosponsor

  4. Sep 27, 2021 · Senate

    Representative Wichgers added as a cosponsor

  5. Sep 29, 2021 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Oct 5, 2021 · Senate

    Senator Jacque added as a coauthor

  7. Oct 12, 2021 · Senate

    Representative James added as a cosponsor

  8. Oct 19, 2021 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  9. Oct 19, 2021 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  10. Oct 21, 2021 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  11. Oct 21, 2021 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  12. Oct 21, 2021 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  13. Oct 21, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Testin

  14. Oct 22, 2021 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 10-25-2021 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  15. Oct 25, 2021 · Senate

    Read a second time

  16. Oct 25, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  17. Oct 25, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  18. Oct 25, 2021 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  19. Oct 25, 2021 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 20, Noes 12

  20. Oct 25, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  21. Oct 25, 2021 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  22. Nov 1, 2021 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  23. Dec 6, 2021 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Sporting Heritage

  24. Jan 18, 2022 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  25. Jan 18, 2022 · Assembly

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Sporting Heritage, Ayes 9, Noes 4

  26. Jan 18, 2022 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  27. Jan 18, 2022 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 1-20-2022 by Committee on Rules

  28. Jan 20, 2022 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  29. Jan 20, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  30. Jan 20, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  31. Jan 20, 2022 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  32. Jan 20, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  33. Jan 20, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  34. Jan 20, 2022 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  35. Jan 28, 2022 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  36. Mar 28, 2022 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-28-2022 by directive of the Majority Leader

  37. Mar 31, 2022 · Senate

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-31-2022

  38. May 17, 2022 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 5-17-2022 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  39. May 17, 2022 · Senate

    Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

Terms on this page

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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