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Bills from the 2021–22 session

Senate Bill 812

Regulation of certain electric fences

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 18, 2022. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 6, 2022

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 15, 2022

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 23, 2022

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2021 Wisconsin Act 197

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 18, 2022: “Published 3-19-2022”

Read the bill

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What it does

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

This bill limits the authority of political subdivisions to regulate battery-powered, alarmed electric security fences and prohibits certain uses of these fences.

The bill defines a battery-powered, alarmed electric security fence as an electric fence that satisfies all of the following:

Read the full summary

1. Is equipped with an energizer that produces direct current and is powered by a commercial storage battery with a voltage of not greater than 12 volts.

2. Produces an electric charge on contact that satisfies standards provided by the International Electrotechnical Commission, as published in the latest version of the commission's standards for electric fence energizers.

3. Is connected to an alarm system that is capable of signaling law enforcement.

4. Includes warning signage that a battery-powered, alarmed electric security fence is in operation.

5. Is surrounded by a perimeter fence or wall that is at least 5 feet in height.

6. Is no more than 10 feet in height, or two feet higher than the perimeter fence or wall, whichever is higher.

Under the bill, a political subdivision may not 1) prohibit the installation or use of a battery-powered, alarmed electric security fence, except on property designated exclusively for residential use, 2) require a permit, other than an alarm system permit, for the installation or use of such a fence, or 3) impose installation or operation requirements that are inconsistent with the standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission for installation or operation of an electrified fence that is a component of such a fence. The bill also prohibits a person from locating a battery-powered, alarmed electric security fence on property designated exclusively for residential use.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its ⁠. All 3 are Republicans.

3 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 6 names

Authors (3)

Signed on in support (3)

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 Judiciary and Public Safety vote on an amendment

Passed, 7 to 0 · Feb 9, 2022

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 Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it

Passed, 7 to 0 · Feb 9, 2022

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 Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 18, 2022

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 18, 2022

    The governor signed it. It became 2021 Wisconsin Act 197.

  3. Mar 15, 2022

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 23, 2022

    The Assembly passed it too.

  5. Feb 17, 2022

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Feb 15, 2022

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Feb 15, 2022

    The Senate passed it.

  8. Feb 15, 2022

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Feb 9, 2022

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.

  10. Feb 9, 2022

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  11. Jan 20, 2022

    The committee held a public hearing.

  12. Jan 12, 2022

    1 more senator signed on in support.

  13. Jan 6, 2022

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

  14. Jan 6, 2022

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 6, 2022 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Feyen and Jagler; cosponsored by Representatives James and Cabral-Guevara

  2. Jan 6, 2022 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  3. Jan 12, 2022 · Senate

    Senator Bewley added as a coauthor

  4. Jan 20, 2022 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Feb 7, 2022 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  6. Feb 8, 2022 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  7. Feb 9, 2022 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0

  8. Feb 9, 2022 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0

  9. Feb 9, 2022 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  10. Feb 11, 2022 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-15-2022 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  11. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Read a second time

  12. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  13. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  14. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  15. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  16. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  17. Feb 15, 2022 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  18. Feb 17, 2022 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  19. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 8:57 AM on 2-23-2022 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 29

  20. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  21. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  23. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  24. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Feb 23, 2022 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  26. Feb 25, 2022 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  27. Mar 15, 2022 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-15-2022

  28. Mar 18, 2022 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-18-2022. 2021 Wisconsin Act 197

  29. Mar 18, 2022 · Senate

    Published 3-19-2022

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

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