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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

AB 249

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: prohibiting abandonment of a boat and providing a penalty.

Boat Natural resources department of — Recreation and boating Personal property Police

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Assembly, not reached
  3. Passes Senate, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill prohibits a person from abandoning a boat on the waters of this state or upon adjacent riparian land. “Abandon” is defined to mean 1) leaving a boat unattended, without demonstrated intent to return to or moor or maintain the boat, for a period of more than seven consecutive days, or 2) leaving a boat that is partially submerged, in a state of disrepair, or otherwise neglected such that the boat presents a hazard to navigation, public safety, or environmental health and the owner has failed to take reasonable actions to remove or maintain the boat.

Under the bill, if a law enforcement officer determines that a boat has been abandoned, the officer must notify the owner, who must remove the boat within 30 days. If the boat remains abandoned after that period, the owner is subject to imprisonment for up to nine months and a fine of up to $10,000, or both. In addition, the Department of Natural Resources shall require the person to obtain a certificate of satisfactory completion of a safety course before operating a boat.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Dittrich (R) , Duchow (R) , Green (R) , Gundrum (R) , Kreibich (R) , O'Connor (R) , Subeck (D) , Zimmerman (R)

5 cosponsors

J. Jacobson (D) , L. Johnson (D) , Nass (R) , Stafsholt (R) , Wanggaard (R)

Registered lobbying interests · 1

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Full history

  1. May 8, 2025 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Zimmerman, Kreibich, Dittrich, Duchow, Green, Gundrum, O'Connor and Subeck; cosponsored by Senators Stafsholt, L. Johnson, Nass and Wanggaard

  2. May 8, 2025 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation

  3. Sep 4, 2025 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Zimmerman

  4. Sep 9, 2025 · Assembly

    Representative J. Jacobson added as a coauthor

  5. Nov 4, 2025 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  6. Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1