Assembly Bill 881
Water diversion or elevation projects in towns
Topics: Natural Resources, Department of: Environmental protection, Town, Waterways and water power
Vetoed by the governor
Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Apr 8, 2026. Lawmakers did not , so it stands.
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Introduced, passed
Jan 16, 2026
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 18, 2026
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 17, 2026
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Governor, stopped here
Vetoed Apr 8, 2026.
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, May 13, 2026: “Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82”
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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 966. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Veto override
Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.
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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under this bill, except in the case of an emergency, the Department of Natural Resources may not initiate, authorize, or issue a permit for a project located in a town that involves the use of stationary or portable pumps or other mechanisms that divert water to locations where water is not naturally occurring or that raise water elevation above what is naturally occurring unless the town board of the town in which the activity will occur approves the project by resolution. This limits DNR’s general authority under current law to regulate and control the level and flow of water in navigable waters and to divert the flow of water of a body of water for the purpose of flood control and prevention, including when such a diversion creates an artificial water body.
Who's behind it
2 representatives are its . All 2 are Republicans.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Mark Born · Republican, Assembly
- Duke Tucker · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (4)
- Tony Kurtz · Republican, Assembly
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Rob Stafsholt · Republican, Senate
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.
Assembly Committee on Environment vote to recommend it
Passed, 4 to 2 · Jan 30, 2026
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 Environment, Ayes 4, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Insurance vote to recommend it
Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 9, 2026
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 Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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May 13, 2026
The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.
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Apr 8, 2026
The governor vetoed it.
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Apr 2, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 17, 2026
The Senate passed it too.
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Mar 9, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.
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Mar 2, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 20, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry.
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Feb 19, 2026
The Senate received it.
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Feb 18, 2026
The Assembly passed it.
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Feb 18, 2026
The Assembly adopted it.
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Feb 2, 2026 to Feb 9, 2026
1 more representative and 1 senator signed on in support.
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Jan 30, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 30, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 2.
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Jan 21, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 20, 2026
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jan 16, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Environment.
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Jan 16, 2026
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Tucker and Born; cosponsored by Senator Quinn
- Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Environment
- Jan 20, 2026 · Assembly
Representative Kurtz added as a coauthor
- Jan 21, 2026 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Jan 29, 2026 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jan 30, 2026 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Environment, Ayes 4, Noes 2
- Jan 30, 2026 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 2, 2026 · Assembly
Representative Moses added as a coauthor
- Feb 9, 2026 · Assembly
Senator Stafsholt added as a cosponsor
- Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 1:28 PM on 2-18-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 13
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Neubauer
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Tucker
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 adopted
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 19, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Feb 20, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry
- Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 18, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Mar 20, 2026 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 3-20-2026
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
- Apr 8, 2026 · Assembly
Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-8-2026
- May 12, 2026 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- May 13, 2026 · Assembly
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.
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
Veto override
Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote