Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: To Executive 4 R cosponsors

SB 617 — Relating to: indicia of registration for electric vehicles. (FE)

Last action — Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

Vetoed by Governor Tony Evers (Democratic) on March 29, 2024.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

26 added · 46 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 617 introduces a requirement for distinctive registration plates or decals for electric vehicles in Wisconsin. The bill specifies that these plates must display an "EV" abbreviation for hybrid and nonhybrid electric vehicles, helping to visibly identify them. Additionally, it clarifies that vehicles with these special registration plates are not required to bear additional decals, streamlining the identification process for electric vehicles. This change matters because it promotes recognition of electric vehicles on the road, potentially encouraging more people to consider switching to electric as part of Wisconsin's efforts to support sustainable transportation.

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- 2024 LEGISLATURE LRB-4521/1 EVM:cdc SENATE BILL 617 November 7, 2023 - Introduced by Senators J AMES, T ESTIN, B ALLWEG, C ABRAL-GUEVARA , COWLES and M ARKLEIN, cosponsored by Representatives P RONSCHINSKE, DITTRIC, DUCHOW , MERSON , GOEBEN , .JOHNSON , MICHALSK, M OSES, ORTIZ-VELEZ, PENTERMAN and S CHMIDT.
Date of enactment:
Referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
Senate Bill 617 Date of publication*:
A N A CT to renumber and amend 341.13 (5);
WISCONSIN ACT A N A CT to renumber and amend341.13 (5);
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under this bill, the Department of Transportation must issue to registrants of hybrid and nonhybrid electric motor vehicles distinctive registration plates or decals for display on existing registration plates that identify the vehicles as electric vehicles.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in required to issue new registration plates under s.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
341.135 senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
for the vehicle.
341.13 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
341.13 (1m) of the statutes is created to SECTION 2.
341.13 (1m) (a) Subject to par.
341.13 (5) of the statutes, as created by read:
(b), the registration plates for any of the following that operate at greater than 50 volts shall display on the plate the abbreviation “EV” or another indication that the vehicle is an electric vehicle:
2023 Wisconsin Act 19, is renumbered 341.13 (5) (a) and 341.13 (1m) (a) Subject to par.
- 2024 Legislature - 2 - LRB-4521/1 EVM:cdc SENATE BILL 617 SECTION 1 1.
(b), the registration amended to read:
Hybrid electric vehicles, as defined in s.
plates for any of the following that operate at greater than 341.13 (5) (a) A Except as provided in par.
(b), a volts shall display on the plate the abbreviation “EV” hybrid electric vehicle, as defined under s.
b.
2.
Nonhybrid electric vehicles, as defined in s.
341.25 (1) (L) 1.
c.
(b) The department may institute any system for issuing new registration plates under par.
(a) that the department deems advisable, except that the department shall issue registration plates meeting the requirements under par.
(a) not later than the time at which the department is required to issue new registration plates under s.
341.135 for the vehicle.
SECTION 2.
341.13 (5) of the statutes, as created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 19, is renumbered 341.13 (5) (a) and amended to read:
341.13 (5) (a) A Except as provided in par.
(b), a hybrid electric vehicle, as defined under s.
341.25 (1) (L) 1.
or another indication that the vehicle is an electric vehi- cle:
c., shall bear decals issued by the department to indicate that the vehicle is an electric vehicle.
c., shall bear decals issued by the depart- 1.
Hybrid electric vehicles, as defined in s.
341.25 (1) ment to indicate that the vehicle is an electric vehicle.
(L) 1.
b.
(b), decals issued under this paragraph shall be displayed as provided in s.
(b), decals issued under 2.
341.15 (1m) (c).
Nonhybrid electric vehicles, as defined in s.
SECTION 3.
this paragraph shall be displayed as provided in s.
341.13 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
341.15 341.25 (1) (L) 1.
341.13 (5) (b) A vehicle bearing a registration plate meeting the requirements of sub.
c.
(1m) is not required to bear decals issued under par.
(1m) (c).
(b) The department may institute any system for issu- SECTION 3.
341.13 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to ing new registration plates under par.
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(a) that the depart- read:
ment deems advisable, except that the department shall 341.13 (5) (b) A vehicle bearing a registration plate issue registration plates meeting the requirements under meeting the requirements of sub.
(1m) is not required to par.
(a) not later than the time at which the department is bear decals issued under par.
(END)
* Section 991.11,ISCONSINSTATUTES:
Effective date of acts.
“Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the governor’s partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication.”
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Action History

  1. Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

  2. Placed on calendar 5-14-2024 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  3. Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-29-2024

  4. Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2024

  5. Report correctly enrolled

  6. Received from Assembly concurred in

  7. Ordered immediately messaged

  8. Read a third time and concurred in

  9. Rules suspended

  10. Ordered to a third reading

  11. Read a second time

  12. Made a special order of business at 11:25 AM on 2-22-2024 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 28

  13. Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  14. Received from Senate

  15. Ordered immediately messaged

  16. Read a third time and passed

  17. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  18. Ordered to a third reading

  19. Read a second time

  20. Placed on calendar 2-20-2024 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  21. Available for scheduling

  22. Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  23. Fiscal estimate received

  24. Executive action taken

  25. Representative Emerson withdrawn as a cosponsor

  26. Public hearing held

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

  28. Introduced by Senators James, Testin, Ballweg, Cabral-Guevara, Cowles and Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives Pronschinske, Dittrich, Duchow, Emerson, Goeben, S. Johnson, Michalski, Moses, Ortiz-Velez, Penterman and Schmidt

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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6 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 126 not signed on

Sponsors (6)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (126)

126 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 126 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 617?
SB 617 is sponsored by James, Jesse (Republican), Testin, Patrick (Republican), Ballweg, Cabral-Guevara, Rachael (Republican), Cowles, and Marklein, Howard (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 617?
This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 617?
Track SB 617 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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