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Bills from the 2023–24 session

Senate Bill 247

An agricultural roads improvement grant program and making an appropriation. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Jun 22, 2023. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Apr 20, 2023

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Jun 7, 2023

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Jun 14, 2023

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2023 Wisconsin Act 13

Latest entry in the official record, Jun 22, 2023: “Published 6-22-2023”

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 requires the Department of Transportation to establish an agricultural road improvement grant program. Under the program, projects are eligible for reimbursement of up to 100 percent of the costs of a project under the program if all of the following apply:

1. The project is for the improvement of a local road, minor collector, bridge, or culvert (agricultural road facility) that is maintained by a political subdivision.

Read the full summary

2. The agricultural road facility provides access to agricultural lands used for the production of agricultural goods and is used by more than one agricultural producer.

3. Due to structural deficiencies, the agricultural road facility is subject to weight limitations at least annually.

4. After completion of the project, the agricultural road facility will not be subject to weight limitations other than under extraordinary or emergency circumstances.

The bill also requires DOT to prioritize projects that improve access by the largest number of agricultural producers, projects that make improvements to agricultural road facilities that are the oldest, projects that will result in the largest reduction in deferred or repeated trips by vehicles of agricultural producers, projects that will result in the greatest positive economic impact, projects making improvements to agricultural road facilities that provide the only feasible route of access, and projects that are the subject of a grant application by a political subdivision that faces demonstrable fiscal or administrative difficulties in completing highway projects.

The bill also requires that for a project under this program, upon request by a grantee, DOT must be designated as a fiscal agent of a grantee that is a political subdivision and that, upon agreement by the grantee and the county, a county may be designated as a fiscal agent of a grantee if the grantee is a town located within the county. If acting as a fiscal agent under this program, DOT or a county must, upon request, pay reimbursable costs for a project when incurred and retain or receive grant moneys in reimbursement of these payments.

Who's behind it

14 senators are its ⁠. 12 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats.

43 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 57 names

Authors (14)

Signed on in support (43)

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 Transportation and Local Government vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Jun 2, 2023

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 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Jun 2, 2023

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

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · Jun 2, 2023

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 Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Jun 22, 2023

    The new law was published.

  2. Jun 22, 2023

    The governor signed it. It became 2023 Wisconsin Act 13.

  3. Jun 16, 2023

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Jun 14, 2023

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  5. Jun 14, 2023

    “Taken off the Assembly message, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1b)” (the official wording)

  6. Jun 14, 2023

    The Senate adopted it.

  7. Jun 14, 2023

    The Assembly passed it too.

  8. Jun 14, 2023

    The Assembly adopted it.

  9. Jun 14, 2023

    “Read” (the official wording)

  10. Jun 9, 2023

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  11. Jun 7, 2023

    The Assembly received it.

  12. Jun 7, 2023

    The Senate passed it.

  13. Jun 7, 2023

    The Senate adopted it.

  14. Jun 7, 2023

    2 more representatives signed on in support.

  15. Jun 2, 2023

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  16. Jun 2, 2023

    “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  17. Jun 2, 2023

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  18. May 24, 2023

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  19. May 23, 2023

    The committee held a public hearing.

  20. May 3, 2023

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  21. Apr 20, 2023

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

  22. Apr 20, 2023

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Apr 20, 2023 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Marklein, Tomczyk, Ballweg, Cabral-Guevara, Cowles, Felzkowski, Feyen, James, Pfaff, Quinn, Spreitzer, Testin, Wanggaard and Bradley; cosponsored by Representatives Tranel, VanderMeer, Novak, C. Anderson, Armstrong, Behnke, Binsfeld, Callahan, Conley, Dittrich, Edming, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Gustafson, Hurd, Kitchens, Krug, Kurtz, Magnafici, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Oldenburg, Penterman, Petryk, Plumer, Rettinger, Rozar, Sapik, Schmidt, Schraa, Shankland, Snyder, Sortwell, Spiros, Summerfield, Swearingen, Wittke and Tittl

  2. Apr 20, 2023 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government

  3. May 3, 2023 · Senate

    Representative Jacobson added as a cosponsor

  4. May 22, 2023 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Marklein

  5. May 23, 2023 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  6. May 24, 2023 · Senate

    LRB correction (Senate Substitute Amendment 1)

  7. May 24, 2023 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  8. May 31, 2023 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Marklein

  9. Jun 1, 2023 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  10. Jun 2, 2023 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  11. Jun 2, 2023 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  12. Jun 2, 2023 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  13. Jun 2, 2023 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  14. Jun 5, 2023 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 6-7-2023 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  15. Jun 6, 2023 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Marklein

  16. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Representatives Nedweski and Wichgers added as cosponsors

  17. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Read a second time

  18. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  19. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  20. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  21. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  23. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  24. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Jun 7, 2023 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  26. Jun 9, 2023 · Assembly

    Representative Steffen added as a cosponsor

  27. Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly

    Read

  28. Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up

  29. Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  30. Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Tranel

  31. Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  32. Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  33. Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  34. Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended

  35. Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  36. Jun 14, 2023 · Senate

    Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  37. Jun 14, 2023 · Senate

    Taken off the Assembly message, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1b)

  38. Jun 14, 2023 · Senate

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in

  39. Jun 14, 2023 · Senate

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  40. Jun 15, 2023 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  41. Jun 16, 2023 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 6-16-2023 by directive of the Majority Leader

  42. Jun 22, 2023 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 6-21-2023. 2023 Wisconsin Act 13

  43. Jun 22, 2023 · Senate

    Published 6-22-2023

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

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