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LRBs0360/2
JK:cjs/amn/skw
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1,
TO ASSEMBLY BILL 969
February 22, 2024 - Offered by Representative Brooks.
AB969-ASA1,1,6 1An Act to repeal 59.69 (8), 75.36 (3) (bm) and 75.69 (1m) (a); to renumber and
2amend
75.35 (2) (a), 75.35 (2) (e) and 75.36 (2m); to amend 75.35 (2) (title),
375.35 (2) (d), 75.35 (3), 75.35 (7), 75.36 (3) (a) 2., 75.36 (3) (a) 3., 75.69 (1) and
475.69 (2); and to create 75.35 (2) (ag), 75.36 (2k), 75.36 (2m) (b), 75.69 (1m)
5(am), 75.69 (1m) (an) and 75.69 (1n) of the statutes; relating to: the county sale
6of tax-deeded lands.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes changes to current law regarding the process by which a county
sells land it has acquired by a tax-deed for the enforcement and collection of
delinquent property taxes. The changes include the following:
1. Under current law, a county board is authorized to engage licensed real
estate brokers and salespersons to assist in selling tax-deeded land. Under the bill,
the county may sell such lands by open or closed bid.
2. Under current law, when selling tax-deeded land, the county may give
preference to the former owner or heirs of the former owner who wish to purchase
the land. Under the bill, the county must give preference not only to the former
owner or heirs but also to the beneficiaries of the former owner who wish to purchase
the land.

3. Except for counties with a population of 750,000 or more, current law
prohibits the sale of tax delinquent real property acquired by a county unless the sale
and appraised value of the property has first been advertised by publication of a class
3 notice. However, a county that enacts an ordinance giving preference to the former
owner or the heirs of the owner who wish to purchase the property is exempt from
the requirement that the sale must first be advertised by publishing a notice, if the
net proceeds from the sale are sufficient to pay all special assessments and special
charges on the property, including interests.
Under the bill, this exemption applies if the net proceeds from the sale are equal
to or exceed the amounts owed the county as delinquent taxes, interest, penalties,
and amounts associated with selling the property. The exemption also applies to a
county that enacts an ordinance that includes giving preference to the beneficiaries
of the former owner who wish to purchase the property and the net proceeds from the
sale are equal to or exceed the amounts owed the county as delinquent taxes,
interest, penalties, and amounts associated with selling the property.
4. In addition, under the bill, except for counties with a population of 750,000
or more, before the sale of tax-deeded property, the county must advertise the sale
by publishing on the county's website and either by publishing a class 1 notice or by
advertising on a multiple listing service, no later than 240 days after the county
acquires the property or, beginning in 2026, no later than 180 days after the county
acquires the property.
5. Under the bill, a county with a population of 750,000 or more, must advertise
the sale by publishing on the county's website and either by publishing a class 1
notice or by advertising on a multiple listing service, no later than 36 months after
the county acquires the property, if the property meets certain criteria, including
being a vacant lot or subject to a raze order.
6. Under current law, the net proceeds from the county's sale of the property
are determined by subtracting certain amounts from the sales price, such as the
amount of real estate agent or broker fees paid for selling the property. The bill
modifies current law by allowing the subtraction of reasonable and customary real
estate agent or broker fees or other actual costs paid for selling the property.
7. Under current law, if the county is unable to locate the former owner within
five years following the mailing of the notice, the former owner forfeits the right to
any remaining equity in the property. The bill replaces this provision with a
requirement that any remaining equity not claimed within one year be considered
unclaimed funds and disposed according to that process.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB969-ASA1,1 1Section 1. 59.69 (8) of the statutes is repealed.
AB969-ASA1,2 2Section 2. 75.35 (2) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,3,2
175.35 (2) (title) Power of county County required to sell arrange for the
2sale of
tax-deeded lands.
AB969-ASA1,3 3Section 3. 75.35 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 75.35 (2) (am) and
4amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,3,195 75.35 (2) (am) Except as provided in s. Subject to this section and ss. 75.36 and
675.69, any county shall have the power to sell and convey its tax-deeded lands in
7such manner and upon such terms as the county board may by ordinance or
8resolution determine, including without restriction because of enumeration, sale by
9land contract, or by quitclaim or warranty deed with mortgage from vendee to secure
10any unpaid balance of the purchase price. Such mortgage may be foreclosed in the
11same manner as any other mortgage. The title to lands conveyed by land contract
12shall remain in the county until fully paid for and in the event of default in such
13payment the county may foreclose the land contract with costs and reasonable
14attorney fees. When such land contract runs to a person or private corporation, the
15lands therein conveyed shall be placed on the tax roll and be subject to taxation the
16same as though absolute title thereto was vested in the purchaser under such land
17contract. Such purchaser shall be liable to pay all taxes against such land and in the
18event of failure to make such payment the county may pay the same and add the sum
19so paid to the amount due on the land contract
.
AB969-ASA1,4 20Section 4. 75.35 (2) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
AB969-ASA1,3,2421 75.35 (2) (ag) If a property or the county is subject to s. 66.1006, the county shall
22publish the notice under s. 75.69 (1) no later than 240 days after the date of approval
23from the department of natural resources or, beginning in 2026, no later than 180
24days after the date of such approval.
AB969-ASA1,5 25Section 5. 75.35 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,4,16
175.35 (2) (d) The county board may delegate its power to manage and sell
2tax-deeded lands to a committee constituted of such personnel and in such manner
3and compensated at such rate as the county board may by ordinance determine,
4provided that the compensation and mileage of county board members serving on
5such committee shall be limited and restricted as provided in s. 59.13 (2), or the
6county board may delegate the power of acquisition, management and sale of
7tax-deeded lands or any part of such power to such officer and departments of the
8county as the county board may by ordinance determine. Such ordinance shall
9prescribe the policy to be followed in the acquisition, management and sale of
10tax-deeded land and shall prescribe generally the powers and duties of such
11committee, officers, departments, employees and agents. The county board is
12authorized to sell and convey its tax-deeded lands by open or closed bid or to engage
13licensed real estate brokers and salespersons to assist in selling such lands and pay
14a commission for such service and to advertise such sale in such manner as it deems
15proper. The county board may appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary
16to carry out the provisions of this section.
AB969-ASA1,6 17Section 6. 75.35 (2) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 75.35 (2) (e) 1. and
18amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,4,2219 75.35 (2) (e) 1. Any county acting either by its board or by delegated authority
20as provided in this section may sell and convey tax-deeded lands to the former owner
21or owners thereof and such before or after publication of the notice required par. (ag)
22and without complying with s. 75.69.
AB969-ASA1,5,5 232. A conveyance under subd. 1. shall not operate to revive any tax certificate
24lien or any other lien whatsoever which was cut off and rendered void by the tax deed,
25foreclosure of tax certificate, deed in lieu of tax deed, action in rem under s. 75.521

1or other means by which the county acquired title to such land, nor shall it revive the
2lien of any tax certificate or tax dated subsequently to the date on which the county
3acquired its title. The enactment into statute law of the provisions of this paragraph
4shall not be deemed an expression of legislative intent that the prior common law of
5this state was otherwise than as herein provided.
AB969-ASA1,7 6Section 7. 75.35 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,6,27 75.35 (3) Preference to Right of former owner to repurchase. The county
8board shall, for single-family, owner-occupied properties, and may, at its option, for
9all other properties,
by ordinance provide that in prior to the sale of tax-deeded
10lands, the former owner who lost his or her title through delinquent tax collection
11enforcement procedure, or his or her beneficiaries, as defined in s. 851.03, or heirs,
12may be given such preference in as defined in s. 851.09, shall have the right to
13purchase such lands as such ordinance shall provide. Such ordinance may provide
14that such sale be
by paying the county for all costs and expenses incurred as provided
15under s. 75.36 (3) (a), plus the amount of property taxes that would have been owed
16on the property for the year during which the purchase occurs if the county had not
17acquired the property and, plus amounts to satisfy any other liens at the time of the
18foreclosure including the county's costs associated with the repurchase. Any sale
19under such ordinance is
exempt from any or all provisions of s. 75.69 if the net
20proceeds from the sale to the former owner as determined under s. 75.36 (3) will be
21sufficient to pay all special assessments and special charges to which the property
22is subject, including interest imposed under s. 74.47, or if the county settles in full
23with the taxing jurisdiction for special assessments, as defined in s. 75.36 (1), to
24which the property is subject. Such ordinance shall not apply to tax-deeded lands

1which have been improved for or dedicated to a public use by the county subsequent
2to its acquisition thereof
.
AB969-ASA1,8 3Section 8. 75.35 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,6,64 75.35 (7) Liability precluded. Absent fraud, no county is liable for acts or
5omissions associated with the sale of property under this section , including the
6process by which the property is sold
.
AB969-ASA1,9 7Section 9. 75.36 (2k) of the statutes is created to read:
AB969-ASA1,6,108 75.36 (2k) County sale of property. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter,
9any property acquired by a county by tax deed under this chapter shall be disposed
10of as provided under this section and ss. 75.35 and 75.69.
AB969-ASA1,10 11Section 10. 75.36 (2m) of the statutes is renumbered 75.36 (2m) (a) and
12amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,6,2413 75.36 (2m) (a) Upon acquisition of a tax deed under this chapter, the county
14treasurer shall notify the former owner, by registered mail or certified mail sent to
15the former owner's mailing address on the tax bill, that the former owner may be
16entitled to a share of the proceeds of a future sale. The county shall send to the former
17owner the proceeds identified in sub. (3) (c) minus any delinquent taxes, interest, and
18penalties owed by the former owner to the county in regard to other property and
19minus the actual costs of the sale as specified under sub. (3) (a) plus all amounts
20disbursed under sub. (3) (b) and (bm) and plus the amount of property taxes that
21would have been owed on the property for the year during which the sale occurs if
22the county had not acquired the property. If the county is unable to locate the former
23owner within 5 years following the mailing of the notice under this subsection, the
24former owner forfeits the right to any remaining equity in the property.
AB969-ASA1,11 25Section 11. 75.36 (2m) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB969-ASA1,7,6
175.36 (2m) (b) If the payment to the former owner under par. (a) is returned
2to the county or otherwise not claimed by the former owner within one year following
3the mailing of the proceeds under par. (a), the payment shall be considered
4unclaimed funds and disposed of pursuant to s. 59.66 (2). Neither the former owner
5nor any person making claim for any funds under this section is entitled to interest
6on sums owed by the county under this section.
AB969-ASA1,12 7Section 12. 75.36 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,7,98 75.36 (3) (a) 2. The amount of reasonable and customary real estate agent or
9broker fees or other actual costs paid for selling the property.
AB969-ASA1,13 10Section 13. 75.36 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,7,1411 75.36 (3) (a) 3. All amounts of unpaid general property taxes, interest,
12penalties,
special assessments, special charges and special taxes levied against the
13property sold, including interest and penalties imposed under s. 74.47 previously
14paid to taxing jurisdictions by the county.
AB969-ASA1,14 15Section 14. 75.36 (3) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.
AB969-ASA1,15 16Section 15. 75.69 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB969-ASA1,8,1017 75.69 (1) Except as provided in sub. (1m), no tax delinquent real estate
18acquired by a county may be sold unless the sale and appraised value of such real
19estate has first been advertised by publishing on the county's website and either by
20publication of a class 3 1 notice, under ch. 985, or by advertising on a multiple listing
21service, no later than 240 days after the county acquires the property or, beginning
22in 2026, no later than 180 days after the county acquires the property
. Any county
23may accept the bid most advantageous to it but, at the first attempt to sell the
24property, every bid less than the appraised value of the property shall be rejected.
25Any county is authorized to sell for any amount any land previously advertised for

1sale after advertising the sale of such land by publication of a class 1 notice, under
2ch. 985; except that no property may be sold for an amount that is less than the
3property's appraised value unless the county board or a committee designated by the
4county board has reviewed and approved such a sale and no property may be sold for
5an amount that is less than the amount of the highest bid unless the county board
6or a committee designated by the county board prepares a written statement,
7available for public inspection, that explains the reasons for accepting a bid that is
8less than the highest bid. In this subsection, “appraised value" means the value
9determined, at the discretion of the county board, by the county board, a committee
10designated by the county board, or a certified appraiser, as defined in s. 458.01 (7).
AB969-ASA1,16 11Section 16. 75.69 (1m) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
AB969-ASA1,17 12Section 17. 75.69 (1m) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB969-ASA1,8,1813 75.69 (1m) (am) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2. and par. (an), if a property
14is located in a county with a population of 750,000 or more, the county shall advertise
15the sale of tax delinquent real estate by publishing on the county's website and either
16by publication of a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, or by advertising on a multiple listing
17service, no later than 36 months after the day in which the county acquires the
18property, if the property meets any of the of the following criteria:
AB969-ASA1,8,1919 a. The property is a vacant lot.
AB969-ASA1,8,2220 b. The property is residential property occupied by a person with a valid
21ownership or leasehold interest in the property at the time of foreclosure but is not
22a single-family, owner-occupied residence.
AB969-ASA1,8,2423 c. The property is eligible to a redemption or sale-back process authorized by
24s. 75.35 (3), and set by local ordinance.
AB969-ASA1,8,2525 d. The property qualifies for a raze order under s. 66.0413.
AB969-ASA1,9,2
1e. The county has estimated a cost of repair that exceeds 50 percent of the
2property's assessed value in the year of the county's acquisition.
AB969-ASA1,9,53 f. The delinquent property taxes, fees, interest, penalties, and other costs under
4s. 75.36 (3) (a) exceed 75 percent of the property's assessed value in the year of the
5county's acquisition.
AB969-ASA1,9,76 g. The county has reason to believe the property is a brownfield pursuant to s.
7238.13 (1) (a).
AB969-ASA1,9,88 h. The property is subject to s. 75.106.
AB969-ASA1,9,119 2. For purposes of this paragraph, the sale of a single-family, owner-occupied
10residence is subject to the 240-day and 180-day notice requirements under sub. (1),
11unless the residence meets the criteria under subd. 1. d. to h.
AB969-ASA1,18 12Section 18. 75.69 (1m) (an) of the statutes is created to read:
AB969-ASA1,9,2113 75.69 (1m) (an) With regard to property located in a county with a population
14of 750,000 or more and obtained by foreclosure prior to the effective date of this
15paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], the county shall attempt to sell such property no
16later than 10 years after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
17If any such property remains unsold after the expiration of that 10-year period, the
18county shall advertise the sale of the property by publishing on the county's website
19and either by publication of a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, or by advertising on a
20multiple listing service, no later than 180 days after the expiration of that 10-year
21period, regardless of the property type.
AB969-ASA1,19 22Section 19. 75.69 (1n) of the statutes is created to read:
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