Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 966

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: water diversion or elevation projects in towns.

Natural resources department of — Environmental protection Town Waterways and water power

Introduced, stopped here
Passes Senate, not reached
Passes Assembly, not reached
Governor signs, not reached
Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

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.

Registered lobbying interests · 5

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

Votes

Senate: Report passage recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 3, Noes 2

Passed 3–2 Mar 9, 2026 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history