The Wisconsin Legislative Council Study Committee on Sandhill Cranes met on October 2, 2024 to gather information on crane-caused crop damage and a potential crane hunt. Read Paul A. Smith's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage of the meeting here. 

 (For a complete history of actions taken on each bill, click bill number link.)

AB957/SB892: LOHV is registered in opposition to these bills.  These bills prohibit political subdivisions (cities, towns, villages, counties) from adopting certain regulations for animal facilities in areas that are zoned exclusively or primarily for agricultural use unless the activity being regulated presents a substantial threat to public health or safety. 

The bills specify regulations related to animal welfare standards, animal medications or vaccinations, the use to which an animal will be put either on a farm or facility or after it leaves the farm or facility, and  the species of animals that are allowed to be raised within such a zoned area. Additionally, political subdivisions may not enforce any existing regulations that conflict with the provisions of the bills unless the activity being regulated presents a substantial threat to public health or safety.

SB892: Introduced by Senator Romaine Quinn. Senator Quinn cosponsored AB957. Senator Quinn represents Wisconsin's 25th District where the Town of Trade Lake in Burnett County is being considered for the state's largest pig farm.

AB957: 3/11/24: Public hearing requirement waived by Committee on Senate Organization. 3/12/24 both Assembly and Senate concurred in AB957. AB957 was vetoed by the Governor on 3/29/24.

AB512/SB545:  LOHV is registered in opposition to these bills.  These bills repeal a DNR administrative code provision that generally prohibits a person from hunting or pursuing any free-roaming wild animal with the aid of a dog from May 1 to June 30 in a portion of the state north of certain east-west highways. The bills also repeal DNR administrative code restrictions on dog training and dog trailing on any free roaming wild animal in that area and during that period. AB512 was vetoed by the Governor on 3/29/24.    

AB124/SB126:  LOHV is registered in opposition to these bills.  These bills amend the definition of public zoos and aquariums for purposes of captive wildlife regulations. The bills expand the definition of "public zoos and aquariums" to include those that are accredited members of the Zoological Association of America (ZAA).

According to the ZAA website, Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo & Safari in Minocqua is currently the only Wisconsin facility accredited by the ZAA. Minocqua lies in the districts represented by Senator Felzkowski, a sponsor of the Senate bill and a cosponsor of the Assembly bill, and Representative Swearingen, a cosponsor of the Senate bill and a sponsor of the Assembly bill. Failed to pass pursuant to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

AB34/SB30:  LOHV is registered in opposition to these bills.  These bills provide that rules promulgated by the DNR that ban baiting deer in counties on the basis of confirmed positive tests for CWD or bovine tuberculosis must be based on CWD or bovine TB confirmed in free-roaming animals and not based on confirmed positive tests in captive animals, e.g. deer on deer farms or hunting ranches. 3/11/24: public hearing requirement waived by Committee on Senate Organization, and placed on calendar for 3/12/24. AB34 was vetoed by the Governor on 3/29/24.

AB75/SB65:  LOHV is registered in opposition to these bills. These bills relate to mistreating an animal and provide a penalty. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. 

AB137/SB139:  LOHV is registered in opposition to these bills. These bills amend current law to require the DNR to establish a statewide wolf population goal in its wolf management plan. SB139 was vetoed by the Governor on 3/29/24.

AB360/SB360:  LOHV is registered in support of these bills. These bills prohibit, with limited exceptions, the DNR from using any insecticide from the neonicotinoid class on land maintained by the DNR.  Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

AB84/SB79:  LOHV is not registered in opposition to or in support of these bills at this time.  These bills provide a penalty and prohibit certain felony offenders from possessing, controlling, or residing with a vicious dog. They allow a person to request an exemption from the prohibition if the exemption is reasonably needed to earn a livelihood, or as a condition of employment, and will not endanger public safety. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

AB655/SB619:  LOHV is not registered in opposition to or in support of these bills at this time.  These bills create a "transition to grass" pilot program in the DATCP to provide support and grants to farmers who are implementing livestock grass-based managed grazing systems and farmers and agribusiness in the grass-fed livestock business. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

AB685/SB912:  LOHV is not registered in opposition to or in support of these bills at this time. These bills prohibit political subdivisions and sewerage districts from prohibiting the keeping of up to four chickens, ducks, geese, quail, or guinea fowl (fowl) by property owners or certain lessors on properties zoned for residential use. The bills also specifically allow political subdivisions and sewerage districts to do any of four things with regard to the keeping of fowl. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.   

AB874: LOHV is not registered in opposition to or in support of this bill at this time. This bill prohibits the disposal of deer carcasses within 10 miles of a registered deer farm. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. 

AB884/SB798: LOHV is not registered in opposition to or in support of these bills at this time. Under these bills the DNR may research CWD in cervids in addition to managing and providing funding to conduct testing for CWD which the DNR is authorized to do under current law. A cervid is any species of deer or elk that is present in the wild and that is not a farm-raised deer. The bill also appropriates $1 million annually from the general fund in fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 for research on and management of CWD. Current law appropriates no money for this purpose. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. 

AB885/SB799: LOHV is not registered in opposition to or in support of these bills at this time. These bills relate to the DNR program for self-service CWD sampling kiosks for hunters where hunters may drop off a deer carcass for sampling. These bills codify the program and provide $200,000 in the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium for the program. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution1.

AB886/SB800:  LOHV is not registered in opposition to or in support of these bills at this time.These bills require the DNR to provide large metal containers where hunters may dispose of deer carcasses, to be placed in locations throughout the state as determined by the DNR. The bills provide $2 million in the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium for the carcass disposal sites. The bills also provide $100,000 in the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium for the DNR to provide education to hunters about CWD and the importance of proper carcass disposal. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution1.

AB1085/SB994: These bills relate to CWD and farm-raised deer. They provide that if the DNR or the DATCP require a person who keeps farm-raised deer to maintain a double perimeter fence, install a second perimeter fence, or install a solid perimeter fence around a deer farm, the DNR must provide the person with a grant equal to the cost of installing the second perimeter fence or solid perimeter fence. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

AB1204: This bill eliminates the DNR's authority under the wolf depredation program to make payments for death or injury caused by wolves to hunting dogs. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.