Under current law, public utility companies, including railroads and air
carriers, are exempt from local property taxes and instead subject to special state
taxes. Current law requires DOR to send certain notices regarding these taxes by
certified mail. Under the bill, DOR must still provide the notices but is no longer
required to send them by certified mail.
Other taxation
Real estate transfer fee
Current law, generally, requires a person who conveys an interest in real
property to file a real estate transfer return with the county register of deeds and pay
a real estate transfer fee equal to 30 cents for each $100 of the value of the
conveyance. Current law provides certain exemptions from paying the fee, including
exemptions for conveyances between an entity and the members of the entity who
are related to each other as spouses, lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, or
siblings.
The bill modifies current law so that the exemptions for conveyances between
entities and related members also apply to conveyances to members who are related
as an uncle and his nieces or nephews, an aunt and her nieces or nephews, or first
cousins.
transportation
Highways and local assistance
Transportation revenue bonds
Under current law, the Building Commission may issue revenue bonds for
major highway projects and transportation administrative facilities in a principal
amount that may not exceed $4,325,885,700. The bill increases the revenue bond
limit to $4,493,600,000, an increase of $167,714,300.
I 94 east-west corridor bonding
Under current law, the state may contract up to $40,000,000 in public debt for
the purposes of reconstructing the “I 94 east-west corridor,” which is defined to mean
“all freeways, including related interchange ramps, roadways, and shoulders,
encompassing I 94 in Milwaukee County from 70th Street to 16th Street, and all
adjacent frontage roads and collector road systems.” The bill increases the
authorized general obligation bonding limit for these purposes by $140,873,000 to
$180,873,000.
Major interstate bridge bonding
Under current law, the state may contract up to $272,000,000 in public debt for
DOT to fund major interstate bridge projects, which are projects involving the
construction or reconstruction of a bridge on the state trunk highway system that
crosses a river forming a boundary of the state and for which this state's estimated
cost share is at least $100,000,000. The bill increases the authorized general
obligation bonding limit for this purpose by $47,200,000 to $319,200,000.
General transportation aids
Under current law, DOT administers a general transportation aids program
that makes aid payments to a county based on a share-of-costs formula, and to a
municipality based on the greater of a share-of-costs formula or an aid rate per mile.
The aid rate per mile is $2,734 for 2023. The bill increases the aid rate per mile to
$2,843 for 2024 and $2,957 for 2025 and thereafter.
Currently, the maximum annual amount of aid that may be paid to counties
under the program is $127,140,200. The bill maintains this amount for 2023 and
increases this amount to $132,225,800 for 2024 and $137,514,800 for 2025 and
thereafter. Currently, the maximum annual amount of aid that may be paid to
municipalities under the program is $398,996,800. The bill maintains this amount
for 2023 and increases this amount to $414,956,700 for 2024 and $431,555,000 for
2025 and thereafter.
Local roads improvement program discretionary grants
Under current law, DOT administers the local roads improvement program
(LRIP) to assist political subdivisions in improving seriously deteriorating local
roads by reimbursing political subdivisions for certain improvements. LRIP has
several components, including discretionary grants. Current law specifies dollar
amounts that DOT must allocate in each fiscal year to each of three project types that
exceed specified cost thresholds: 1) county trunk highway improvements, 2) town
road improvements, and 3) municipal street improvement projects.
Under the bill, in fiscal year 2023-24 and each fiscal year thereafter, of the
amount appropriated to DOT for LRIP discretionary grants, DOT must allocate 35.6
percent to county trunk highway improvements, 39.0 percent to town road
improvements, and 25.4 percent to municipal street improvements.
Transportation projects
Under current law, for certain highway projects for which DOT spends federal
money, federal money must make up at least 70 percent of the funding for those
projects. DOT is required to notify political subdivisions receiving aid for local
projects whether the aid includes federal moneys and how those moneys must be
spent. For certain projects that receive no federal money, DOT may not require
political subdivisions to comply with any portion of DOT's facilities development
manual other than design standards. Any local project funded with state funds
under the surface transportation program or the local bridge program must be let
through competitive bidding and by contract to the lowest responsible bidder. The
bill repeals all of these requirements.
Electric vehicle infrastructure program
Under the bill, DOT may establish and administer a program to provide
funding for electric vehicle infrastructure projects.
Establishment of bikeways and pedestrian ways in highway projects
Under current law, DOT must, with exceptions, give due consideration to
establishing bikeways and pedestrian ways in all new highway construction and
reconstruction projects funded from state or federal funds.
Under the bill, with several exceptions, DOT must ensure that bikeways and
pedestrian ways are established in all new highway construction and reconstruction
projects funded from state or federal funds and must promulgate administrative
rules identifying certain exceptions to the requirement.
Interconnected traffic signal and railroad signal systems
Under current law, DOT is appropriated federal, state, and local moneys for the
purpose of railroad crossing improvements. The bill appropriates to DOT state and
local moneys specifically for the planning and installation of interconnected traffic
signal and railroad signal systems.
State funding for local transportation facilities
Under current law, DOT is appropriated moneys received from local units of
government and the federal government for the purposes of providing public access
roads to navigable waters; improving highway connections between the UW System
and state charitable or penal institutions; constructing and maintaining UW
System, state charitable or penal institution, and state capitol roadways;
constructing and maintaining state park, forest, and riverway roads; and improving
transportation facilities.
The bill creates an appropriation of state moneys from the transportation fund
for the same purposes.
Traffic calming grants
Under the bill, DOT must develop and administer a local traffic calming grant
program. Under the program, DOT must award grants to political subdivisions for
infrastructure projects designed to reduce the speed of vehicular traffic.
Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge
The bill requires DOT, in the 2023-24 fiscal year, to set aside $1,200,000 of the
amounts appropriated to DOT for bridge development, construction, and
rehabilitation for repairs to the Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge in Brown County.
Bonding authority for Southern Bridge project
Under current law, the state may contract up to $46,849,800 in public debt for
DOT to acquire, construct, develop, enlarge, or improve local bridges and interstate
bridges. The bill authorizes the state to contract an additional $50,000,000 in public
debt for the construction of the Southern Bridge project crossing the Fox River in
Brown County.
Tribal nation welcome signs
The bill authorizes a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this
state to erect and maintain within the right-of-way of any highway within the
boundaries of an Indian reservation or other land held in trust for the tribe or band
a tribal nation welcome sign. Under the bill, “tribal nation welcome sign” means an
official sign erected and maintained by a federally recognized American Indian tribe
or band in this state that the tribe determines is necessary to inform motorists of the
territorial boundaries of tribal reservation and trust lands. The bill provides that
welcome signs may not be erected within the right-of-way of an interstate highway
and are not subject to the Wisconsin manual on traffic control devices adopted by
DOT.
Under current law generally, no sign may be placed within the limits of any
street or highway except as necessary for the guidance or warning of traffic, the
safeguard of children at play, or to indicate the presence of a neighborhood watch
program. This prohibition does not apply to directional and other official signs or to
municipal welcome signs.
Drivers and motor vehicles
Driver's cards
Under
2007 Wisconsin Act 20, certain provisions specified in the federal REAL
ID Act of 2005 (REAL ID) were incorporated into state law and these provisions
became effective on January 1, 2013. Among these provisions was the requirement
that DOT follow certain procedures in processing applications for driver's licenses
and identification cards. However, under
2011 Wisconsin Acts 23 and
32, DOT may
process applications for driver's licenses and identification cards in a manner other
than that required by REAL ID if the driver's licenses and identification cards are
marked to indicate that they are not REAL ID compliant and DOT processes the
applications in compliance with DOT practices and procedures applicable
immediately prior to implementation of REAL ID.
Under current law, an applicant for a driver's license or identification card,
regardless of whether it is REAL ID compliant or REAL ID noncompliant, must
provide to DOT 1) an identification document that includes either the applicant's
photograph or both the applicant's full legal name and date of birth; 2)
documentation, which may be the same as item 1, above, showing the applicant's
date of birth; 3) proof of the applicant's social security number or verification that the
applicant is not eligible for a social security number; 4) documentation showing the
applicant's name and address of principal residence; and 5) documentary proof that
the applicant is a U.S. citizen or is otherwise lawfully present in the United States.
However, in processing an application for a REAL ID noncompliant driver's license
or identification card, DOT is not required to meet the standards for document
retention and verification that are imposed for REAL ID compliant products.
Under the bill, an applicant for a REAL ID noncompliant driver's license or
identification card (noncompliant REAL ID) is not required to provide documentary
proof that the applicant is a U.S. citizen or is otherwise lawfully present in the United
States. Also, an applicant may, in lieu of item 1 above, provide an individual taxpayer
identification number, a foreign passport, or any other documentation deemed
acceptable to DOT and, in lieu of items 2 and 4 above, provide documentation deemed
acceptable to DOT. If the applicant does not have a social security number, the
applicant is required to provide verification only that he or she does not have one,
rather than verification that he or she is not eligible for one. In processing an
application for, and issuing or renewing, a noncompliant REAL ID, DOT may not
include any question or require any proof or documentation as to whether the
applicant is a U.S. citizen or is otherwise lawfully present in the United States. The
license document issued must display, on its face, the words “Not valid for voting
purposes. Not evidence of citizenship or immigration status." The bill does not
change any current law requirements related to driver qualifications such as
minimum age or successful completion of knowledge and driving skills tests.
With limited exceptions, DOT may not disclose social security numbers
obtained from operator's license or identification card applicants. The bill prohibits
DOT from disclosing the fact that an applicant has verified to DOT that the applicant
does not have a social security number, except that DOT may disclose this
information to the Elections Commission.
The bill also prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person's status as a
holder or a nonholder of a noncompliant REAL ID, adding this license status as a
prohibited basis for discrimination in employment, housing, and the equal
enjoyment of a public place of accommodation or amusement.
Electronic renewal of operator's licenses
Under current law, most operator's licenses issued by DOT must be renewed
every eight years. In general, an applicant for renewal of an operator's license must
pass an eyesight test and have his or her photograph taken.
Under the bill, if an applicant for renewal of an operator's license meets certain
requirements, the applicant may apply for renewal, and DOT may renew the license,
by electronic means. The renewal may occur without an eyesight test and without
a photograph. One of the eligibility requirements for use of the electronic procedure
is that the applicant meets any additional criteria for eligibility established by DOT.
Driving skills test waiver
Under current law, with limited exceptions, an applicant for an operator's
license authorizing operation of “Class D" vehicles, which are automobiles and most
passenger vehicles, must successfully complete a knowledge test and a driving skills
(road) test. The bill allows DOT to waive the road test for a person if all of the
following are satisfied:
1. The person is under 18 years of age.
2. The person is applying for authorization to operate only “Class D" vehicles.
3. The person has satisfactorily completed a course in driver education.
4. An adult sponsor of the person consents to a waiver of the driving skills test.
Electronic notifications
Under current law, DOT must provide certain notifications by postal mail. The
bill allows DOT to provide some of these notifications by electronic means if the
person being notified has requested electronic notifications from DOT. The
notifications covered in the bill are notices of extensions of probationary license
restrictions, notices related to amount of security required under certain financial
responsibility requirements, and certain notices related to operator's license
revocations, suspensions, or disqualifications.
Ignition interlock device requirement expansion
Under current law, if a person is convicted of a second or subsequent offense
related to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant or
other drug, with a prohibited alcohol concentration, or with a measurable amount
of a controlled substance in his or her blood (OWI offense) or a first OWI offense for
which his or her alcohol concentration is 0.15 or greater, a court must order the
person's operating privilege restricted to operating vehicles that are equipped with
an ignition interlock device. The bill expands the ignition interlock requirement to
all OWI offenses that involve the use of alcohol.
Increased safety belt violation forfeiture
The bill increases the forfeiture from $10 to $25 for violations of motor vehicle
safety belt requirements. Under current law, if a motor vehicle is required to be
equipped with safety belts, no person may operate the vehicle unless the person and
each passenger who is at least eight years old is properly restrained. Separate
requirements and penalties apply to passengers for whom child safety restraint
systems are required.
Seasonal period for farm service license endorsement
Under current law, no person may operate a motor vehicle upon a highway in
this state unless the person possesses a valid operator's license. Additional
endorsements are required for the operation of certain vehicles. An “F” endorsement
authorizes a seasonal farm employee who is eligible for a restricted commercial
driver license under federal law to operate certain commercial vehicles for a seasonal
period not to exceed 180 days in any calendar year. The bill increases the seasonal
period for an “F” endorsement to 210 days.
Electric vehicle identification sticker
The bill requires DOT to issue a decal for each hybrid and nonhybrid electric
vehicle that identifies the vehicle as electric and which must must be displayed on
the front and rear registration plates of the vehicle. The bill provides that there is
a onetime fee of $1 for the issuance of the decals.
General transportation
General fund transfers to the transportation fund
The bill requires two transfers from the general fund to the transportation fund
in each fiscal year, beginning on June 30, 2024. The first transfer must be in an
amount equal to the amount of sales tax generated by the sale of electric vehicles in
this state, as calculated by DOA. Beginning in fiscal year 2025-26, the amount
transferred may not exceed 120 percent of the amount transferred in the previous
year, or $75,000,000, whichever is less. The second transfer must be equal to the
marginal difference between the sales tax generated from the sale of automotive
parts, accessories, tires, and repair and maintenance services in fiscal year 2020-21
and the fiscal year of the transfer, as calculated by DOA.
Mass transit aid amounts
Under current law, DOT provides state aid payments to local public bodies in
urban areas served by mass transit systems to assist the local public bodies with the
expenses of operating those systems. There are five classes of mass transit systems,
and the total amount of state aid payments to four of these classes is limited to a
specific amount in each calendar year. The fifth class consists of certain commuter
or light rail systems, and no state aid amounts are specified for this class. For the
four classes of mass transit systems for which state aid amounts are specified, the
bill does the following to the total amount limits:
1. For mass transit systems having annual operating expenses of $80,000,000
or more, the bill maintains the current limit of $65,477,800 in calendar year 2023 and
increases the limit to $68,096,900 in calendar year 2024 and $70,820,800 in calendar
year 2025 and thereafter.
2. For mass transit systems having annual operating expenses of over
$20,000,000 but less than $80,000,000, the bill maintains the current limit of
$17,205,400 in calendar year 2023 and increases the limit to $17,893,600 in calendar
year 2024 and $18,609,400 in calendar year 2025 and thereafter.
3. For the two classes of mass transit systems having annual operating
expenses of no more than $20,000,000, the bill does not make changes to the current
limits.
Transit capital assistance grants
The bill requires DOT to establish a transit capital assistance grant program,
under which DOT awards grants to eligible applicants for the replacement of public
transit vehicles.
Transportation facilities revenue obligation repayment fund
Under current law, the Building Commission may issue revenue bonds for
major highway projects and transportation administrative facilities. DOT may
deposit in special trust funds certain revenues pledged for the repayment of these
revenue bonds. Moneys pledged in excess of the amount needed for repayment of the
bonds are transferred to the transportation fund, free of any pledge.
The bill authorizes DOT to create a new trust fund and requires the transfer
of $379,369,800 from the general fund to the trust fund, for the purpose of repayment
of revenue bonds.
Freight rail preservation bonding
Under current law, the state may contract up to $300,300,000 in public debt for
DOT to acquire railroad property, provide grants and loans for railroad property
acquisition and improvement, and provide intermodal freight facilities grants. The
bill increases the authorized general obligation bonding limit for these purposes by
$20,000,000 to $320,300,000.
Harbor assistance bonding
Under current law, the state may contract up to $167,300,000 in public debt for
DOT to provide local grants for harbor assistance and for harbor improvements such
as dock wall repair and maintenance, construction of new dock walls, dredging of
materials from a harbor, or the placement of dredged materials in containment
facilities. The bill increases the authorized general obligation bonding limit for these
purposes by $16,000,000 to $183,300,000.
Number of state patrol officers
The bill increases the number of state traffic patrol officers DOT may employ
from 399 to 434.
Mississippi River Parkway Commission position authority
Under current law, the Mississippi River Parkway Commission assists in
coordinating the development and preservation of the Great River Road in
Wisconsin. The commission consists of members appointed to four-year terms by the
governor. These members serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for
actual expenses of performing their duties. Reimbursements are paid from moneys
appropriated to DOT for departmental management and operations.
The bill increases the position authority for the Mississippi River Parkway
Commission by 1.0 FTE, funded from the same appropriation, for the purpose of
providing administrative support to the commission.
veterans
