Wisconsin 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

SB 535 — Relating to: the authority to shoot a wild animal causing damage to a highway.

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

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

This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” 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.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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

35 added · 23 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill SB 535 has been amended to allow the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and certain local agents to shoot beavers and muskrats within 50 feet of a roadway if those animals are causing damage to that highway. Previously, discharging a firearm in that area was generally prohibited, but this exception aims to reduce potential hazards posed by these animals to road infrastructure. This change is significant because it provides a more effective way to address wildlife-related highway damage while ensuring public safety.

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- 2020 LEGISLATURE LRBa0919/1 EHS:klm SENATE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 535 January 31, 2020 - Offered by Senator IFFAN.
- 2020 LEGISLATURE LRB-4627/1 EHS:amn SENATE BILL 535 October 31, 2019 - Introduced by Senators IFFANYand M ARKLEIN , cosponsored by Representatives E DMING, BALLWEG , BOWEN , FELZKOWSKI, HORLACHER , KULP, K URTZ, M ILROY, M URSAU and NOVAK .
At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:
Referred to Committee on Transportation, Veterans and Military Affairs.
1.
A N A CT to amend 167.31 (2) (d);
Page 1, line 3:
and to create 167.31 (4) (fm) of the statutes;
before that line insert:
relating to:
“S ECTION 1g.
the authority to shoot a wild animal causing damage to a highway.
29.885 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources may remove or authorize the removal of a wild animal that is causing damage or that is causing a nuisance.
29.885 (1) (a) “Damage" means physical harm to forest products;
Generally, the removal may involve capturing, shooting, setting a trap for, relocating, or otherwise destroying or disposing of the wild animal.
streams;
However, current law generally prohibits anyone from discharging a firearm within 50 feet of the center of a roadway.
roads;
This bill adds an exception to this prohibition for DNR or an agent of a city, village, town, or county authorized by DNR to shoot a wild animal that is causing damage to a highway.
dams;
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
buildings;
SECTION 1.
orchards;
167.31 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
apiaries;
167.31 (2) (d) Except as provided in sub.
livestock;
(4) (a), (bg), (cg), (e), (fm),o person may discharge a firearm or shoot a bolt or an arrow from a bow or crossbow from or across a highway or within 50 feet of the center of a roadway.
and commercial agricultural crops, including Christmas trees and nursery stock.
- 2020 Legislature - 2 - LRB-4627/1 EHS:amn SENATE BILL 535 SECTION 2 SECTION 2.
“Damage” includes flooding and culvert blockages caused by a beaver or muskrat.”.
2.
Page 2, line 1:
delete lines 1 to 6 and substitute:
“S ECTION 2.
29.885 from discharging a firearm within 50 feet of the center of a roadway in order to dispose of a beaver or LRBa0919/1 - 2020 Legislature - 2 - EHS:klm muskrat that is causing damage to a highway in which the roadway is located if the discharge does not pose a risk to public safety.”.
29.885 from discharging a firearm within 50 feet of the center of a roadway in order to dispose of an animal that is causing damage to a highway in which the roadway is located.
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Action History

  1. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Available for scheduling

  3. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation, Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  4. Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation, Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  5. Executive action taken

  6. Public hearing held

  7. Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Tiffany

  8. Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation, Veterans and Military Affairs

  9. Introduced by Senators Tiffany and Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives Edming, Ballweg, Bowen, Felzkowski, Horlacher, Kulp, Kurtz, Milroy, Mursau and Novak

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 130 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (130)

130 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

Votes

Subjects

public-safety environment agriculture
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 535?
SB 535 is sponsored by Tiffany and Marklein, Howard (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 535?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” 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 535?
Track SB 535 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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