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LEGISLATION WE ARE FOLLOWING FOR THE 2023/2024 SESSION OF THE WI STATE LEGISLATURE

Updated 3/21/24
 

Eyes     The 2023/2024 Wisconsin State Legislative Session is almost over with. With only a couple of months left in the session, new bills are still being introduced, and all of the below are expected to move fast -- and MANY of these are BAD NEWS for WI animals. This page lists the bills we are watching, in the order they were introduced, with links for more information (including sponsors, bill summaries, talking points, action taken, etc.). NOW is the time to take action for WI animals and contact your legislators about EACH of the following bills separately -- click on the links provided for more information, including bill summaries, talking points, etc.

 pawprint bullet point   Find your WI State Representatives   pawprint bullet point

  • STRONGLY SUPPORT: SB 65/AB 75, regarding felony provisions for mistreatment of animals. This is the FOURTH try for a felony charge for someone who commits an act of animal abuse that they should reasonably know may result in grievous bodily harm or death of an animal, regardless of whether that harm or death actually occurs.

    This bill would also require a judge to PROHIBIT a person convicted of animal abuse -- felony or misdemeanor -- from owning, possessing, training, or residing with the type animal they were convicted of abusing, for a specified period of time.

    The link below will take you to our SB 65/AB 75 page, with links to the bill summary, text, and history, as well as Talking Points and what you can do to help get it passed this time. We are very disappointed that the bill was amended to appease the hounders, and even more disappointed that some humane groups have chosen the "throw the baby out with the bath water" approach and are opposing an otherwise excellent bill because of this amendment.

     pawprint bullet point   More about SB 65/AB 75   pawprint bullet point

  • SUPPORT: SB 79/AB 84, relating to: possession of dogs by certain felony offenders and providing a penalty. This bill prohibits certain felony offenders from possessing, controlling, or residing with a vicious dog, as determined by a humane officer or a law enforcement officer using criteria specified in the bill. The prohibition applies to persons whose status as felony offenders is due to committing an act that is classified under the bill as a serious felony, which includes homicide, felony battery, sexual assault, and felonies involving controlled substances.

     pawprint bullet point   Bill History   pawprint bullet point

  • STRONGLY OPPOSE: SB126/AB 124, relating to: the definition of public zoos and aquariums for purposes of captive wildlife regulations. This bill expands the definition of “public zoos and aquariums” to include those that are accredited members of the Zoological Association of America. WE STRONGLY OPPOSE this bill that would eliminate the state licensing requirements from these facilities and prevent the WI DNR from applying state standards that are designed to ensure humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of captive animals.

    The Sloth Conservation Foundation has written a very interesting article about the "dark side" of animal encounter experiences which relates not just to sloths, but to all captive wildlife. You can read The Wildlife Selfie Problem here. It's a good resource to file away for Talking Points, should the need arise to argue for MORE regulation of these facilities instead of less.

     pawprint bullet point   More info about SB 126/ AB 124   pawprint bullet point

  • ***PASSED*** -- PLEASE ASK GOV. EVERS TO VETO! STRONGLY OPPOSE: SB 139/AB 137, Relating to: establishing a statewide wolf population goal. This bill states: "If the wolf is not listed on the federal endangered list and is not listed on the state endangered list, the department shall allow the hunting and trapping of wolves and, shall regulate such hunting and trapping as provided in this section, and shall implement a wolf management plan that establishes a statewide wolf population goal." WE STRONGLY OPPOSE this bill that would essentially make any number of wolves over that "population goal," which the DNR has chosen NOT to set in the new Wolf Management Plan for good reason, fair game for hunters when -- not if -- the wolf is once again delisted from the federal Endangered Species list. (Please click here for an Interesting article on "Wolf killing and the consequences of disturbing pack dynamics."

     pawprint bullet point   More info about SB 139/AB 137   pawprint bullet point

  • ***PASSED*** -- PLEASE ASK GOV. EVERS TO VETO! STRONGLY OPPOSE: SB 545/AB 512, Relating to: hunting wild animals with the aid of a dog, dog training on wild animals, and dog trialing on wild animals in the northern portion of the state. "This bill repeals a current Department of Natural Resources 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 bill also repeals DNR administrative code restrictions on dog training and dog trialing on any free roaming wild animal in that area and during that period." WE STRONGLY OPPOSE this bill that would once again circumvent wildlife experts in the WI DNR, to put WI wildlife at the mercy of politicians and special interest groups. It would essentially remove protections put into place for ground-nesting birds during egg- laying season, as well as protections for bear and wolf cubs during the whelping season, thus creating the potential for more wolf/hound conflicts.

     pawprint bullet point   More info about SB 545/AB 512    pawprint bullet point

  • ***PASSED*** -- PLEASE ASK GOV. EVERS TO VETO! STRONGLY OPPOSE: SB 892/AB 957: An Act to create 173.90 of the statutes; Relating to: preemption of certain local animal ordinances. Current law specifies animal welfare standards, identifies and prohibits a number of crimes against animals, and requires rabies vaccinations and local dog licenses and tags for dogs. Under current law, a city, village, town, or county (political subdivision) may appoint humane officers who may, in addition to law enforcement officers, investigate and enforce these state laws as well as local ordinances relating to animals.

    This bill:

    • prohibits political subdivisions from establishing animal welfare standards that are more stringent than those contained in state law, 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,

    • prohibits political subdivisions from requiring or prohibiting animal medications or vaccinations that are not otherwise required or prohibited under state law,

    • prohibits political subdivisions from regulating the use to which an animal will be put, either on a farm or facility or after it leaves the farm or facility,

    • prohibits political subdivisions from regulating the species of animals that are allowed to be raised within an area that is zoned exclusively or primarily for agricultural use, and

    • prohibits political subdivisions from enforcing any existing regulations that conflict with the provisions of the bill, unless the activity being regulated presents a substantial threat to public health or safety.

      WE STRONGLY OPPOSE SB 892/AB 957: An Act to create 173.90 of the statutes; Relating to: preemption of certain local animal ordinances, which would erode specific animal protections and chip away at enforcement oversight and authority. Please remember that most puppy mills are in areas zoned for agriculture.

       pawprint bullet point   More info about SB 892/ AB 957   pawprint bullet point

       pawprint bullet point   SB 892/ AB 957 Bill History   pawprint bullet point

 

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 pawprint bullet point   How a Bill Becomes a Law in Wisconsin   pawprint bullet point

 

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