Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: Introduced 18 D cosponsors

AB 879 — Relating to: grants for planting trees to address urban heat islands, eligible recipients for urban forestry grants, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and making an appropriation. (FE)

Last action — Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

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

This bill has been introduced in the Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

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Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

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Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

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Summary

An Act to renumber and amend 23.097 (1); to amend 23.097 (1g) and 23.097 (1r); to create 23.097 (1) (b) and 23.097 (1m) of the statutes;

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the urban forestry grant program to include new grants for planting trees to address urban heat islands and adds federally recognized American Indian tribes as eligible recipients.

  • 23.097 (1)

    In this section, a “nonprofit organization” means an organization that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code. → In this section, a 'nonprofit organization' means an organization that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

    This change renames 23.097 (1) to include introductory text for improved clarity.

  • 23.097 (1g)

    The department shall award grants to counties, cities, villages, towns, and nonprofit organizations for up to 50 percent of the cost of tree management plans, tree inventories, brush residue projects, the development of tree management ordinances, tree disease evaluations, public education concerning trees in urban areas and other tree projects. → The department shall award grants to counties, cities, villages, towns, and nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands located in this state for up to 50 percent of the cost of tree management plans, tree inventories, brush residue projects, the development of tree management ordinances, tree disease evaluations, public education concerning trees in urban areas and other tree projects.

    This amendment adds federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands as eligible recipients for existing grant funding.

  • 23.097 (1)

    'Urban heat island' means an urban or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than the surrounding natural land cover.

    This addition defines 'urban heat island' for the purposes of the grants program.

  • 23.097 (1r)

    In addition to the grants awarded under sub. (1g), the department may award grants to counties, cities, village, towns, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands located in this state that apply for the grants for the costs of removing, saving, and replacing trees that have been damaged by catastrophic storm events in urban areas. → In addition to the grants awarded under subs. (1g) and (1m), the department may award grants to counties, cities, villages, towns, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands located in this state that apply for the grants for the costs of removing, saving, and replacing trees that have been damaged by catastrophic storm events in urban areas.

    This change includes the new grant category (1m) in the eligibility for grants related to storm-damaged trees.

  • 20.005 (3)

    $500,000

    This fiscal change increases the appropriation for grants to address urban heat islands by $500,000.

  • Nonstatutory provisions

    The department of natural resources may promulgate emergency rules to implement s. 23.097 (1m) for the period before the effective date of any permanent rules promulgated under s. 23.097 (1m) but not to exceed the period authorized under s. 227.24 (1) (c), subject to extension under s. 227.24 (2). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b), and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

    This creates a provision allowing the DNR to establish emergency rules without the usual requirements, speeding up the implementation of the new grant program.

Action History

  1. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Representative Mayadev added as a coauthor

  3. Fiscal estimate received

  4. Representative Clancy added as a coauthor

  5. Representative Anderson added as a coauthor

  6. Read first time and referred to Committee on Environment

  7. Introduced by Representatives Tenorio, Subeck, Arney, Bare, Goodwin, Hong, Joers, Madison, Miresse, Moore Omokunde, Neubauer, Palmeri, Prado, Sheehan, Sinicki, Stroud, Udell and Vining; cosponsored by Senators Drake, Carpenter, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Larson, Roys, Smith, Spreitzer and Wall

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 26 co-sponsors · 105 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (26)

Not signed on (105)

105 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

Subjects

environment
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 879 do?
An Act to renumber and amend 23.097 (1); to amend 23.097 (1g) and 23.097 (1r); to create 23.097 (1) (b) and 23.097 (1m) of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 879?
AB 879 is sponsored by Moore Omokunde, Tenorio, Angelito (Democrat), Subeck, Lisa (Democrat), Drake, Carpenter, Hesselbein, Larson, Roys, Smith, Spreitzer, Wall, Arney, Margaret (Democrat), Bare, Mike (Democrat), Goodwin, Russell (Democrat), Hong, Francesca (Democrat), Joers, Alex (Democrat), Madison, Darrin (Democrat), Miresse, Vincent (Democrat), Neubauer, Greta (Democrat), Palmeri, Lori (Democrat), Prado, Priscilla (Democrat), Udell, Randy (Democrat), Vining, Robyn (Democrat), Johnson, Tara (Democrat), Sheehan, Joe (Democrat), Sinicki, Christine (Democrat), and Stroud, Angela (Democrat).
What is the current status of AB 879?
This bill has been introduced in the Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track AB 879?
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