Amendment SA7-SSA2-SB45

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE

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SENATE AMENDMENT 7, TO SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 2, TO SENATE BILL 45

July 2, 2025 - Offered by Senators Hesselbein, Smith, Spreitzer, Drake, L. Johnson, Roys, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Habush Sinykin, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff and Wall.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,1,1 At the locations indicated, amend the substitute amendment as follows:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,1,3 1. At the appropriate place, replace the schedule for s. 20.370 with the schedule from 2025 Senate Bill 45 covering the department of natural resources.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,1,4 2. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,1,5 “Section 1. 20.115 (2) (jm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,2,2 20.115 (2) (jm) Veterinary examining board, dog licensing, rabies control program, and humane officers. All moneys received from issuing and renewing credentials under ch. 89 for the licensing, rule-making, and regulatory functions of the veterinary examining board and to provide dog license tags and forms under s. 174.07 (2), to perform other program responsibilities under ch. 174, to administer the rabies control program under s. 95.21, to help administer the rabies control media campaign, and to carry out activities under s. 93.07 (11) and ch. 173.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,2 Section 2. 20.115 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,2,5 20.115 (3) (e) Food waste reduction grants. The amounts in the schedule for providing food waste reduction grants under s. 93.53.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,3 Section 3. 20.115 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,2,9 20.115 (3) (f) Meat processing tuition and curriculum development grants. The amounts in the schedule for providing meat processing tuition grants and curriculum development grants under s. 93.525.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,4 Section 4. 20.115 (4) (aq) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,2,13 20.115 (4) (aq) Food security and Wisconsin products grants. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for food security and Wisconsin products grants under s. 93.62.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,5 Section 5. 20.115 (4) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,2,16 20.115 (4) (ar) Value-added agricultural practices. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for value-added agricultural practices under s. 93.61.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,6 Section 6. 20.115 (4) (at) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,2,19 20.115 (4) (at) Farm to fork program. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for farm to fork grants under s. 93.63.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,7 Section 7. 20.115 (4) (ds) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,2,24 20.115 (4) (ds) Dairy agriculture resilience investment now grant pilot program. Annually, the amounts in the schedule for providing grants under, and the administration of, the dairy agriculture resilience investment now grant pilot program under s. 93.54.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,8 Section 8. 20.115 (4) (t) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,3,4 20.115 (4) (t) Transition to grass pilot program. From the environmental fund, the amounts in the schedule for the transition to grass pilot program under s. 93.60.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,9 Section 9. 20.115 (7) (ac) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,3,8 20.115 (7) (ac) Sandhill crane damage reimbursements. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the sandhill crane damage reimbursement program under s. 93.67.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,10 Section 10. 20.115 (7) (br) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,3,17 20.115 (7) (br) Principal repayment and interest; agricultural conservation easements. A sum sufficient to reimburse s. 20.866 (1) (u) for the principal and interest costs incurred in purchasing agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73, to make the payments determined by the building commission under s. 13.488 (1) (m) that are attributable to the proceeds of obligations incurred to purchase agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73, and to make payments under an agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a).

SB45-SSA2-SA7,11 Section 11. 20.115 (7) (da) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,3,20 20.115 (7) (da) Biodigester operator certification grants. The amounts in the schedule for biodigester operator certification grants under s. 93.75.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,12 Section 12. 20.115 (7) (qf) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,4,9 20.115 (7) (qf) Soil and water management; aids. From the environmental fund, the amounts in the schedule for cost-sharing grants and contracts under the soil and water resource management program under s. 92.14, but not for the support of local land conservation personnel, and for producer-led watershed protection grants under s. 93.59. Prior to fiscal year 2021-22, the department shall allocate funds, in an amount that does not exceed $750,000 in each fiscal year, for the producer-led watershed protection grants. Beginning in In fiscal year years 2021-22 to 2024-25, the department shall allocate funds, in an amount that does not exceed $1,000,000 in each fiscal year, for the producer-led watershed protection grants. Beginning in fiscal year 2025-26, the department shall allocate funds, in an amount that does not exceed $1,250,000 in each fiscal year, for the producer-led watershed protection grants.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,13 Section 13. 20.115 (7) (qm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,4,13 20.115 (7) (qm) Commercial nitrogen optimization program. Biennially, from the environmental fund, the amounts in the schedule for the commercial nitrogen optimization program under s. 92.14 (16).

SB45-SSA2-SA7,14 Section 14. 20.115 (7) (tb) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,4,22 20.115 (7) (tb) Principal and interest; agricultural conservation easements. From the working lands fund, the amounts in the schedule to reimburse s. 20.866 (1) (u) for the principal and interest costs incurred in purchasing agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73, to make the payments determined by the building commission under s. 13.488 (1) (m) that are attributable to the proceeds of obligations incurred to purchase agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73, and to make payments under an agreement or ancillary agreement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a).

SB45-SSA2-SA7,15 Section 15. 20.115 (7) (tm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,5,3 20.115 (7) (tm) Farmland preservation planning grants, working lands fund. From the working lands fund, the amounts in the schedule for farmland preservation planning grants under s. 91.10 (6) and for farmland preservation implementation grants under s. 91.10 (7).

SB45-SSA2-SA7,16 Section 16. 20.115 (7) (u) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,5,7 20.115 (7) (u) Planning grants for regional biodigesters. From the environmental fund, the amounts in the schedule for providing planning grants for establishing regional biodigesters under s. 93.74.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,17 Section 17. 20.866 (1) (u) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,5,22 20.866 (1) (u) Principal repayment and interest. A sum sufficient from moneys appropriated under sub. (2) (zp) and ss. 20.115 (2) (d) and (7) (b) and, (br), (s), and (tb), 20.190 (1) (c), (d), (i), and (j), 20.225 (1) (c) and (i), 20.245 (1) (e) and (j), 20.250 (1) (c) and (e), 20.255 (1) (d), 20.285 (1) (d), (gj), and (je), 20.320 (1) (c) and (t) and (2) (c), 20.370 (7) (aa), (ad), (ag), (aq), (ar), (at), (au), (bq), (br), (cb), (cc), (cd), (cg), (cq), (cr), (cs), (ct), (ea), (eq), and (er), 20.395 (6) (af), (aq), (ar), and (au), 20.410 (1) (e), (ec), and (ko) and (3) (e) and (fm), 20.435 (2) (ee), 20.465 (1) (d), 20.485 (1) (f) and (go) and (4) (qm), 20.505 (4) (es), (et), (ha), and (hb) and (5) (c), (g), and (kc), 20.855 (8) (a), and 20.867 (1) (a) and (b) and (3) (a), (b), (bb), (bc), (bd), (be), (bf), (bg), (bh), (bj), (bL), (bm), (bn), (bo), (bq), (br), (bt), (bu), (bv), (bw), (bx), (cb), (cd), (cf), (ch), (cj), (cq), (cr), (cs), (cv), (cw), (cx), (cz), (g), (h), (i), (kd), and (q) for the payment of principal, interest, premium due, if any, and payment due, if any, under an agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a) relating to any public debt contracted under subchs. I and IV of ch. 18.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,18 Section 18. 20.866 (2) (we) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,6,6 20.866 (2) (we) Agriculture; soil and water. From the capital improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection to provide for soil and water resource management under s. 92.14. The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $68,075,000 $92,075,000 for this purpose. The state may contract additional public debt in an amount up to $7,000,000 for this purpose. The state may contract additional public debt in an amount up to $7,000,000 for this purpose.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,19 Section 19. 20.866 (2) (wg) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,6,12 20.866 (2) (wg) Agricultural conservation easements. From the capital improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection to purchase agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73. The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 for this purpose.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,20 Section 20. 23.197 (15) of the statutes is repealed.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,21 Section 21. 66.0104 of the statutes is repealed.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,22 Section 22. 66.0602 (2m) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,6,17 66.0602 (2m) (c) Rental inspection fees charged by a political subdivision are not subject to a deduction from the political subdivision’s levy.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,23 Section 23. 66.1010 of the statutes is repealed.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,24 Section 24. 91.10 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,6,21 91.10 (title) County plan required; planning and implementation grants.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,25 Section 25. 91.10 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,7,2 91.10 (7) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (tm), the department may award implementation grants to counties for implementing a county’s certified farmland preservation plan.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,7,6 (b) The department shall enter into a contract with a county to which it awards an implementation grant under par. (a) before the department distributes any grant funds to the county. In the contract, the department shall identify the costs that are eligible for reimbursement through the grant.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,7,9 (c) The department may distribute grant funds under this subsection only after the county shows that it has incurred costs that are eligible for reimbursement under par. (b).

SB45-SSA2-SA7,26 Section 26. 91.84 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,7,12 91.84 (1) (b) The department may designate agricultural enterprise areas with a combined area of not more than 2,000,000 3,000,000 acres of land.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,27 Section 27. 92.14 (16) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,7,14 92.14 (16) (title) Commercial nitrogen optimization pilot program.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,28 Section 28. 92.14 (16) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,7,19 92.14 (16) (a) In addition to any grants provided under sub. (3), the department shall award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (qf) (qm) to agricultural producers and to University of Wisconsin System institutions as provided under this subsection.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,29 Section 29. 93.425 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,8,2 93.425 (3) Of the moneys appropriated under s. 20.115 (3) (b), the center for international agribusiness marketing shall ensure that $2,500,000 is expended for the objective specified in sub. (2) (a), $1,250,000 is expended for the objective specified in sub. (2) (b), and $1,250,000 is expended for the objective specified in sub. (2) (c). The center may not expend more than $1,000,000 under the program in any fiscal year.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,30 Section 30. 93.525 of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,8,9 93.525 Meat processing tuition and curriculum development grants. (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (3) (f), the department shall provide grants to universities, colleges, and technical colleges located in this state that have programs in meat processing to reimburse tuition costs of students enrolled in a meat processing program and for curriculum development for the meat processing program.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,8,12 (2) Each tuition reimbursement made with a grant received under this section shall reimburse a student for not more than 80 percent of the first $9,375 of the tuition cost for enrolling in a meat processing program.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,31 Section 31. 93.53 of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,8,20 93.53 Food waste reduction grants. (1) The department shall provide grants for food waste reduction pilot projects that have an objective of preventing food waste, redirecting surplus food to hunger relief organizations, and composting food waste. In awarding grants under this section, the department shall give preference to proposals that serve census tracts for which the median household income is below the statewide median household income and in which no grocery store is located.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,8,22 (2) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,32 Section 32. 93.54 of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,9,6 93.54 Dairy agriculture resilience investment now grant pilot program. (1) Program. The department shall create a dairy agriculture resilience investment now grant pilot program, under which the department shall provide grants to dairy producers with fewer than 1,000 head of milking cows to fund projects designed to improve the dairy producers’ operational efficiency and resilience.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,9,7 (2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,33 Section 33. 93.60 of the statutes is created to read:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,9,10 93.60 Transition to grass pilot program. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB45-SSA2-SA7,9,15 (a) “Managed grazing” means a grazing system alternative to continuous grazing, in which pastured fields are subdivided into smaller paddocks, livestock density is controlled, and animals are rotated through paddocks at a frequency that maintains perennial grass-based vegetative cover, ensures regular access to fresh higher quality forage, and reduces soil compaction and erosion.

SB45-SSA2-SA7,9,19 (b) “Marginal area” means land that is excluded from cultivation due to economic infeasibility or physical restriction for growing conventional crops, and includes riparian areas, low areas prone to flooding, and steep lands not conducive to conventional cultivation.