Assembly Bill 44
The responsibility of a property owner for discharge of a hazardous substance by another
Stopped in committee
It had a but no committee vote, so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Feb 20, 2023
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. It had a hearing but no committee vote.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 15, 2024: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It sat with the Assembly Committee on Environment.
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill exempts a property owner that is not a corporate entity from responsibility relating to the discharge of a hazardous substance on or originating from the owner's property if all of the following apply: 1) the owner acquired the property prior to September 1, 1992; 2) the owner demonstrates that the discharge was caused by another person without the owner's knowledge; and 3) the property was not listed in the database of contaminated properties maintained by the Department of Natural Resources when the owner acquired the property.
The bill also exempts a county that takes a tax deed on property contaminated by a hazardous substance, or any person who subsequently acquires the property from the county and meets certain requirements, from responsibility relating to the discharge of the hazardous substance.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law, a person who possesses or controls a hazardous substance that is discharged or who causes the discharge of a hazardous substance is required to take the actions necessary to restore the environment and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge. In State v. Mauthe , 123 Wis. 2d 288, 366 N.W.2d 871, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that the owner of property containing contaminated soil from which a hazardous substance was being discharged was in possession and control of the soil and the hazardous substance, and was therefore liable for required remedial action.
Who's behind it
7 representatives are its . All 7 are Republicans.
2 more lawmakers .
See all 9 names Hide the names
Authors (7)
- Dave Armstrong · Republican, Assembly
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (2)
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
What happened
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Apr 15, 2024
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Jan 11, 2024
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 20, 2023
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Environment.
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Feb 20, 2023
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 20, 2023 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Mursau, Armstrong, Behnke, Brooks, Dittrich, Spiros and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Jacque and Taylor
- Feb 20, 2023 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Environment
- Jan 11, 2024 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Apr 15, 2024 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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