Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 8 R · 1 D cosponsors

AB 679 — Relating to: weight limits for vehicles transporting grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer. (FE)

Last action — Published 4-3-2026

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced November 24, 2025. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 90% · high confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 10 sponsors

    1 primary, 9 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (8 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

An Act to create 348.25 (8) (b) 4r. and 348.27 (21) of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

52 added · 149 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Assembly Bill 679 introduces a provision that allows the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue permits for vehicles transporting grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer at a maximum weight of 91,000 pounds for a fee of $325. This permit is valid only on specified routes within the state trunk highway system, and can also be used on other highways with prior approval. Additionally, the DOT retains the authority to suspend permits during spring thaw periods, ensuring road safety. This change is significant as it helps meet the needs of agricultural transport while maintaining infrastructure safety regulations.

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Previous
Latest
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBs0339/1 ZDW:klm ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 2, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 679 February 10, 2026 - Offered by Representative B.
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-5528/1 ZDW:klm ASSEMBLY BILL 679 November 24, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives B.
JACOBSON .
J ACOBSON , O'CONNOR , M AXEY, M URPHY , M URSAU , PENTERMAN , SPIROS, TRANEL and G OODWIN , cosponsored by Senator TOMCZYK .
A N A CT to amend 348.25 (4) (intro.), 348.27 (1) and 348.295;
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
to create 348.25 (8) (b) 4r.
A N A CT to create 348.25 (8) (b) 4r.
weight limits for vehicles transporting grain, commercial feed, or bulk fertilizer.
weight limits for vehicles transporting grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill creates special highway weight limits for certain vehicles transporting grain, commercial feed, or bulk fertilizer.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill creates special highway weight limits for certain vehicles transporting grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer.
For any vehicle or vehicle combination operating under a permit to transport certain agricultural products, current law specifies the maximum allowable gross weight that the vehicle may impose on the highway based on the vehicle’s total number of axles and the distance between the front and rear axles.
The bill authorizes DOT to issue permits, for a fee of $325, for the transport of grain, feed, or commercial fertilizers at a weight not to exceed 91,000 pounds.
The bill provides for the following maximum weights for a vehicle operating under the agricultural permit or the permit created in the bill:
The permit is valid for the transportation of grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer only on highways that are within the state trunk highway system and only on a route specified by the department.
- 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBs0339/1 ZDW:klm SECTION 1 Number of Axles Distance Maximum weight 61 feet 90,500 62 feet 91,000 53 feet 91,000 43 feet 90,500 44 feet 91,000 The bill authorizes DOT to issue a permit for a fee of $325 to transport grain, commercial feed, or bulk fertilizer at a weight not to exceed 91,000 pounds.
Other highways may be used with written approval of the officers in charge of maintenance of the other highways.
The permit is valid for the transportation of grain, commercial feed, or bulk fertilizer only on highways that are within the state trunk highway system and only on a route specified by the department.
DOT may suspend the permit during a spring thaw.
Other highways may be used with written approval of the officers in charge of maintenance of the other highways if the vehicle operator carries the written approval while operating the vehicle and presents it upon request of a law enforcement officer or DOT.
Under current law, if any bill introduced in either house of the legislature directly or indirectly establishes an exception to vehicle weight limitations, DOT must prepare a report, containing specified information, relating to the bill within - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-5528/1 ZDW:klm ASSEMBLY BILL 679 SECTION 1 six weeks after the bill is introduced and before any vote is taken on the bill.
Additionally, DOT may suspend the permit during a spring thaw.
Under current law, if any bill introduced in either house of the legislature directly or indirectly establishes an exception to vehicle weight limitations, DOT must prepare a report, containing specified information, relating to the bill within six weeks after the bill is introduced and before any vote is taken on the bill.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
348.25 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
348.25 (4) (intro.) Except as provided under s.
348.26 (4), (6), or (7) or 348.27 (3), (3m), (4m), (9), (9m), (9r), (9t), (10), (12), (15), (16), (18), (19), or (20), or (21), permits shall be issued only for the transporting of a single article or vehicle which exceeds statutory size, weight or load limitations and which cannot reasonably be divided or reduced to comply with statutory size, weight or load limitations, except that:
S ECTION 2.
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRBs0339/1 ZDW:klm SECTION 3 SECTION 3.
S ECTION 2.
348.27 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
348.27 (1) APPLICATIONS .
All applications for annual, consecutive month or multiple trip permits for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles or loads shall be made to the officer or agency designated by this section as having authority to issue the particular permit desired for use of the particular highway in question.
All applications under subs.
(2) and (4) to (15) shall be made upon forms prescribed by the department.
All applications under sub.
(16), (17), (18), and (21) shall be made utilizing an electronic process prescribed by the department.
All applications under sub.
(17) shall be made utilizing an electronic process prescribed by the department.
All applications under sub.
(18) shall be made utilizing an electronic process prescribed by the department.
SECTION 4.
348.27 (21) PERMITS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF GRAIN ,COMMERCIAL FEED , OR BULK FERTILIZER .
348.27 (21) PERMITS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF GRAIN , FEED, OR COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER.
(b), the department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation of grain, as defined in s.
(b), the department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation of grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer in vehicles or vehicle combinations that have 6 or more axles and that exceed the maximum gross weight limitations under s.
126.01 (13), commercial feed, as defined in s.
348.15 (3) (c).
94.72 (1) (b), or bulk fertilizer, as defined in s.
94.64 (1) (b), in vehicles or vehicle combinations that have 6 or more axles and that exceed the maximum gross weight limitations under s.
348.15 (3) (c) but that do not exceed the maximum gross weight limitations under s.
348.295.
- 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRBs0339/1 ZDW:klm SECTION 4 (b) Except as provided in par.
(b) Except as provided in par.
(c), a permit under this subsection is valid only for the transportation of grain, as defined in s.
(c), a permit under this subsection is valid only for the transportation of grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer on highways within the state trunk highway system and only on a route specified by the department.
Show all 57 changed rows (17 more)
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126.01 (13), commercial feed, as defined in s.
(c) If the highways desired to be used by an applicant for a permit under this subsection involve highways other than those within the state trunk highway - 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-5528/1 ZDW:klm ASSEMBLY BILL 679 SECTION 2 system, the application shall be accompanied by a written statement of route approval by the officer in charge of maintenance of the other highway.
94.72 (1) (b), or bulk fertilizer, as defined in s.
94.64 (1) (b), on highways within the state trunk highway system to a rail yard, shipyard, port, ethanol plant, manufacturing facility, grain elevator, or feed mill and only on a route specified by the department.
(c) If the route desired to be used by an applicant for a permit under this subsection involves any highway other than those within the state trunk highway system, the application shall be accompanied by a written statement of route approval by the officer in charge of maintenance of the other highway.
A person operating a vehicle under a permit under this subsection shall carry the written statement of route approval while operating on that route and shall display the statement upon request of any law enforcement officer or representative of the department.
SECTION 5.
S ECTION 3.
348.295 of the statutes is amended to read:
348.295 Weight limitations for certain permits.
Notwithstanding s.
348.15 (3) (c), for any vehicle or vehicle combination operating under a permit issued under s.
348.27 (18) or (21), the gross weight imposed on the highway by any group of 6 or more consecutive axles of a vehicle or combination of vehicles may not - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRBs0339/1 ZDW:klm S ECTION 5 exceed the maximum gross weights in the following table for each of the respective distances between axles and the respective numbers of axles of a group:
[See Figure 348.295 following] Figure 348.295:
Maximum gross weight in pounds on a group of— consecutive axles of a 7-axle vehicle or of a8 consecutive axles of a 8-axle vehicle or of Distances in feet between foremost and 6 consecutive axles of any combination of vehicles vehicle or combination of vehicles having a any vehicle or combination of vehicles rearmost axles of a group having a total of 6 or more axles total of 7 or more axles having a total of 8 or more axles 82,000 82,500 83,000 83,500 84,500 85,000 85,500 80,500 86,000 81,000 86,500 81,500 87,000 82,000 87,500 82,500 88,500 83,500 89,000 84,000 89,500 84,500 90,000 85,000 90,500 80,500 85,500 91,000 81,000 86,000 81,500 87,000 82,000 87,500 83,000 88,000 83,500 88,500 84,000 89,000 84,500 89,500 85,000 90,000 86,000 91,000 86,500 87,000 87,500 88,000 89,000 89,500 90,000 90,500 91,000 S ECTION 6.
S ECTION 7.
(END)
Effective date.
- 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRBs0339/1 ZDW:klm SECTION 7 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 4th month beginning after publication.
(END )
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Action History

  1. Published 4-3-2026

  2. Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 161

  3. Presented to the Governor on 4-1-2026

  4. Report correctly enrolled on 3-24-2026

  5. LRB correction (Assembly Substitute Amendment 2)

  6. Representative Emerson added as a coauthor

  7. Received from Senate concurred in

  8. Ordered immediately messaged

  9. Senator Smith added as a cosponsor

  10. Read a third time and concurred in

  11. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  12. Ordered to a third reading

  13. Read a second time

  14. Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  15. Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  16. Available for scheduling

  17. Report concurrence recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 13, Noes 0

  18. Executive action taken

  19. Withdrawn from committee on Senate Organization and rereferred to joint committee on Finance pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)

  20. Representative Brown added as a coauthor

  21. Available for scheduling

  22. Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 4, Noes 1

  23. Executive action taken

  24. Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Local Government

  25. Received from Assembly

  26. Ordered immediately messaged

  27. Read a third time and passed

  28. Rules suspended

  29. Ordered to a third reading

  30. Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 adopted

  31. Read a second time

  32. Representative Anderson added as a coauthor

  33. Withdrawn from committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 2-17-2026

  34. Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative B. Jacobson

  35. Fiscal estimate received

  36. Referred to committee on Rules

  37. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation, Ayes 6, Noes 0

  38. Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Transportation, Ayes 6, Noes 0

  39. Executive action taken

  40. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative B. Jacobson

  41. Representative Tucker added as a coauthor

  42. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative B. Jacobson

  43. Public hearing held

  44. Representative Behnke added as a coauthor

  45. Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation

  46. Introduced by Representatives B. Jacobson, O'Connor, Maxey, Murphy, Mursau, Penterman, Spiros, Tranel and Goodwin; cosponsored by Senator Tomczyk

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 122 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (122)

122 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

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Subjects

taxation transportation agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 679 do?
An Act to create 348.25 (8) (b) 4r. and 348.27 (21) of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 679?
AB 679 is sponsored by Tomczyk, Jacobson, Brent (Republican), O'Connor, Jerry (Republican), Maxey, Dave (Republican), Murphy, David (Republican), Mursau, Jeffrey (Republican), Penterman, William (Republican), Spiros, John (Republican), Tranel, Travis (Republican), and Goodwin, Russell (Democrat).
What is the current status of AB 679?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced November 24, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 679?
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