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AB855,1,11 1An Act to repeal 23.09 (2p), 23.092 (5), 23.094 (4), 23.175 (3) (b) 2., 23.29 (3) and
223.293 (5); to renumber and amend 23.0917 (5g) (b); to consolidate,
3renumber and amend
23.175 (3) (b) (intro.) and 1.; to amend 20.866 (2) (ta),
420.866 (2) (tw), 23.09 (2r) (a), 23.0915 (2c) (d), 23.0917 (3) (a), 23.0917 (3) (br)
52., 23.0917 (4) (a), 23.0917 (4) (d) 2r., 23.0917 (4j) (b), 23.0917 (5g) (a), 23.0917
6(12), 23.0953 (2) (a) (intro.), 23.096 (2m) (intro.), 23.29 (1), 23.29 (2), 23.29 (11),
723.293 (4) and 70.58 (1); and to create 23.0917 (3) (am), 23.0917 (3) (dm) 8.,
823.0917 (4) (d) 1m. f., 23.0917 (5g) (b) 2., 23.0953 (2) (c), 25.29 (7) (c), 25.29 (7)
9(d) and 28.043 of the statutes; relating to: the ending date of the Warren
10Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program and granting bonding
11authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill reauthorizes the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000
Program until 2030 and makes some changes to it.
Current law authorizes the state to incur public debt for certain conservation
activities under the stewardship, which is administered by the Department of

Natural Resources. The state may incur this debt to acquire land for the state for
conservation purposes and for property development activities and may award
grants to others to acquire land for these purposes. Current law establishes the
amounts that DNR may obligate in each fiscal year through fiscal year 2021-22 for
expenditure under each of five subprograms of the stewardship program.
This bill reauthorizes the stewardship program until fiscal year 2029-30. For
fiscal years through 2021-22, the bill maintains at $33,250,000 the amount that
DNR may obligate under the program each fiscal year, and for fiscal years beginning
with 2022-23 and ending in 2029-30 the bill sets this amount at $21,000,000. The
bill increases to $1,214,250,000 the total amount of public debt that the state may
contract under the program.
Beginning in fiscal year 2022-23, the bill reduces the amount DNR may
obligate under the land acquisition subprogram from $21,000,000 to $9,000,000 and
eliminates requirements that DNR set aside $5,000,000 for grants awarded to
counties for land acquisition and certain amounts for DNR to acquire land and to
match grants DNR receives under the federal forest legacy program. The bill
maintains the requirement that DNR set aside, in each fiscal year, $1,000,000 for the
department to acquire land for the ice age trail and $7,000,000 for grants awarded
to nonprofit conservation organizations (NCOs).
Beginning in fiscal year 2022-23, the bill also reduces from $9,750,000 to
$9,500,000 the amount DNR may obligate for the property development and local
assistance subprogram.
This bill provides that, in each fiscal year beginning in 2022-23, DNR set aside
$5,000,000 to acquire forest land and $5,000,000 for grants to counties to acquire
land for county forests from certain amounts transferred from the general fund to the
conservation fund. 2017 Wisconsin Act 59 eliminated the forestation state property
tax, and replaced it with this annual transfer from the general fund to the
conservation fund of an amount equal to 0.1697 mills for each dollar of assessed
valuation of property. Under current law, DNR must use this amount for forest
acquisition, preservation, and development.
Under current law, DNR's authority to acquire land is limited to a specified set
of purposes, including such purposes as state parks, state forests, state trails, stream
bank protection, and habitat areas and fisheries. Current law generally limits
DNR's acquisition of land and awarding of grants for land acquisition under the land
acquisition subprogram of the stewardship program to this set of purposes as well.
This bill allows DNR to acquire or award a grant for the acquisition of a parcel of
agricultural land under the land acquisition subprogram for the purpose of leasing
a portion of it to any person for agricultural purposes if the remainder of the parcel
is used for one of the allowable purposes.
Under current law, in each fiscal year ending in 2019-20, if DNR does not
obligate an amount authorized for a stewardship subprogram in a fiscal year, it may
not adjust the annual bonding authority for that subprogram by raising the annual
bonding authority for the next fiscal year. Under this bill, this restriction applies
again beginning in fiscal year 2022-23.

Under the land acquisition subprogram, DNR may award grants to counties to
acquire land for county forests, or for projects that promote nature-based outdoor
recreation or conservation and for which DNR is requesting the county's assistance
(county grants). Under the bill, a county is not eligible for a county grant if the
number of acres of public land in the county that are used for nature conservation
purposes constitutes 20 percent or more of the number of acres in the county.
Under current law, one exception to the prohibition on obligating unobligated
amounts under the stewardship program is that, if in a given fiscal year the amount
that DNR obligates to provide grants to NCOs is less than the amount set aside for
that purpose under the land acquisition subprogram, DNR may obligate the
unobligated amount in the next fiscal year but only for the purpose of awarding a
county grant. Under this bill, beginning with fiscal year 2022-23, this unobligated
amount may only be obligated for the purpose of awarding a grant to a governmental
unit under the property development and local assistance subprogram.
This bill eliminates current law provisions that require DNR, if it receives a
donation of land for state parks, state trails, habitat areas, stream bank protection,
the natural areas heritage program, or the ice age trail, to determine the value of the
donated land and release an equal amount of stewardship moneys to be used for the
same project or similar activities.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB855,1 1Section 1. 20.866 (2) (ta) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act 9,
2is amended to read:
AB855,4,73 20.866 (2) (ta) Natural resources; Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson
4stewardship 2000 program.
From the capital improvement fund a sum sufficient for
5the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program under s. 23.0917.
6The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $1,046,250,000
7$1,214,250,000 for this program. The state may contract additional public debt in
8an amount up to $42,600,000 for this program. Except as provided in s. 23.0917 (4g)
9(b), (4m) (k), (5), (5g), and (5m), the amounts obligated, as defined in s. 23.0917 (1)
10(e), under this paragraph may not exceed $46,000,000 in fiscal year 2000-01, may
11not exceed $46,000,000 in fiscal year 2001-02, may not exceed $60,000,000 in each

1fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2002-03 and ending with fiscal year 2009-10,
2may not exceed $86,000,000 in fiscal year 2010-11, may not exceed $60,000,000 in
3fiscal year 2011-12, may not exceed $60,000,000 in fiscal year 2012-13, may not
4exceed $47,500,000 in fiscal year 2013-14, may not exceed $54,500,000 in fiscal year
52014-15, and may not exceed $33,250,000 in each fiscal year beginning with 2015-16
6and ending with fiscal year 2021-22, and may not exceed $21,000,000 in each fiscal
7year beginning with 2022-23 and ending with 2029-30
.
AB855,2 8Section 2 . 20.866 (2) (tw) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB855,4,179 20.866 (2) (tw) Natural resources; ice age trail. From the capital improvement
10fund, as a part of the outdoor recreation land acquisition program, a sum sufficient
11for the department of natural resources for the acquisition and development of the
12ice age trail under s. 23.17. The state may contract public debt in an amount not to
13exceed $750,000 for this purpose. Moneys expended from this appropriation in each
14fiscal year may not exceed an amount equal to the sum of the amount received under
15s. 20.370 (7) (gg) from gifts, grants and bequests for that fiscal year plus an amount
16equal to the valuation of the land accepted for dedication under s. 23.293 (5)
in that
17fiscal year.
AB855,3 18Section 3 . 23.09 (2p) of the statutes is repealed.
AB855,4 19Section 4 . 23.09 (2r) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB855,4,2020 23.09 (2r) (a) Land acquisition under subs. sub. (2dm) and (2p).
AB855,5 21Section 5. 23.0915 (2c) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act
229
, is amended to read:
AB855,4,2423 23.0915 (2c) (d) No moneys may be committed for expenditure from the
24appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (tz) after June 30, 2022 2030.
AB855,6
1Section 6. 23.0917 (3) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act 9,
2is amended to read:
AB855,5,73 23.0917 (3) (a) Beginning with fiscal year 2000-01 and ending with fiscal year
42021-22 2029-30, the department may obligate moneys under the subprogram for
5land acquisition to acquire land for the purposes specified in s. 23.09 (2) (d) and
6grants for these purposes under s. 23.096, except as provided under par. (am) and ss.
723.197 (2m), (3m) (b), (7m), and (8) and 23.198 (1) (a).
AB855,7 8Section 7 . 23.0917 (3) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB855,5,149 23.0917 (3) (am) Notwithstanding s. 23.09 (2) (d) and the limitation on the
10purposes for which the department may acquire land and award grants under par.
11(a), the department may acquire or award a grant for the acquisition of a parcel of
12agricultural land under par. (a) for the purpose of leasing a portion of it to any person
13for agricultural purposes if the remainder of the parcel will be used for a purpose
14specified in s. 23.09 (2) (d).
AB855,8 15Section 8. 23.0917 (3) (br) 2. of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act
169
, is amended to read:
AB855,5,1817 23.0917 (3) (br) 2. For each fiscal year beginning with 2015-16 and ending with
182021-22 2029-30, $7,000,000.
AB855,9 19Section 9 . 23.0917 (3) (dm) 8. of the statutes is created to read:
AB855,5,2120 23.0917 (3) (dm) 8. For each fiscal year beginning with 2022-23 and ending
21with fiscal year 2029-30, $14,000,000.
AB855,10 22Section 10. 23.0917 (4) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act
239
, is amended to read:
AB855,6,324 23.0917 (4) (a) Beginning with fiscal year 2000-01 and ending with fiscal year
252021-22 2029-30, the department may obligate moneys under the subprogram for

1property development and local assistance. Moneys obligated under this
2subprogram may be only used for nature-based outdoor recreation, except as
3provided under par. (cm).
AB855,11 4Section 11 . 23.0917 (4) (d) 1m. f. of the statutes is created to read:
AB855,6,65 23.0917 (4) (d) 1m. f. For each fiscal year beginning with 2022-23 and ending
6with fiscal year 2029-30, $9,500,000.
AB855,12 7Section 12. 23.0917 (4) (d) 2r. of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin
8Act 9
, is amended to read:
AB855,6,119 23.0917 (4) (d) 2r. Beginning with fiscal year 2013-14 and ending with fiscal
10year 2021-22 2029-30, the department shall obligate $6,000,000 in each fiscal year
11for local assistance.
AB855,13 12Section 13. 23.0917 (4j) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act
139
, is amended to read:
AB855,6,1914 23.0917 (4j) (b) For fiscal year 2007-08, the department may not obligate more
15than $1,500,000 for cost-sharing with local governmental units for recreational
16boating projects under s. 30.92. For each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year
172008-09 and ending with fiscal year 2021-22 2029-30, the department may not
18obligate more than $2,500,000 for cost-sharing with local governmental units for
19recreational boating projects under s. 30.92.
AB855,14 20Section 14 . 23.0917 (5g) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB855,7,321 23.0917 (5g) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g), if for a
22given fiscal year, the department obligates an amount from the moneys appropriated
23under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) for a subprogram under sub. (3) or (4) that is less than the
24annual bonding authority under that subprogram for that given fiscal year, the
25department may not obligate the unobligated amount in subsequent fiscal years.

1This subsection applies beginning with fiscal year 2011-12 and ending with fiscal
2year 2019-20 2029-30, except that it does not apply to fiscal years 2020-21 and
32021-22
.
AB855,15 4Section 15 . 23.0917 (5g) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 23.0917 (5g) (b) 1.
5and amended to read:
AB855,7,126 23.0917 (5g) (b) 1. If in a given fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2013-14
7and ending in 2021-22, the amount that the department obligates from the moneys
8appropriated under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) to provide grants to nonprofit conservation
9organizations under s. 23.096 is less than the amount set aside for that purpose
10under sub. (3) (br) in that fiscal year, the department may obligate the unobligated
11amount in the next fiscal year but only for the purpose of awarding a grant under s.
1223.0953 to a county for the acquisition of land for a county forest under s. 28.11.
AB855,16 13Section 16 . 23.0917 (5g) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB855,7,2014 23.0917 (5g) (b) 2. If in a given fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2022-23,
15the amount that the department obligates from the moneys appropriated under s.
1620.866 (2) (ta) to provide grants to nonprofit conservation organizations under s.
1723.096 is less than the amount set aside for that purpose under sub. (3) (br) in that
18fiscal year, the department may obligate the unobligated amount in the next fiscal
19year but only for the purpose of awarding a grant to a governmental unit under s.
2023.09 (19), (20), or (20m) or 30.277.
AB855,17 21Section 17. 23.0917 (12) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act 9,
22is amended to read:
AB855,7,2423 23.0917 (12) Expenditures after 2022 2030. No moneys may be obligated from
24the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) after June 30, 2022 2030.
AB855,18 25Section 18 . 23.092 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
AB855,19
1Section 19. 23.094 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
AB855,20 2Section 20. 23.0953 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2019
3Wisconsin Act 9
, is amended to read:
AB855,8,64 23.0953 (2) (a) (intro.) Beginning with fiscal year 2010-11 and ending with
5fiscal year 2021-22 2029-30, the department shall establish a grant program under
6which the department may award a grant to a county for any of the following:
AB855,21 7Section 21 . 23.0953 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB855,8,108 23.0953 (2) (c) A county is not eligible for a grant under this section if the
9number of acres of public land in the county that are used for nature conservation
10purposes constitutes 20 percent or more of the number of acres in the county.
AB855,22 11Section 22. 23.096 (2m) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin
12Act 9
, is amended to read:
AB855,8,1713 23.096 (2m) (intro.) Notwithstanding sub. (2) (b), in each fiscal year beginning
14with fiscal year 2010-11 and ending with fiscal year 2021-22 2029-30, the
15department may award grants under this section that equal up to 75 percent of the
16acquisition costs of the property if the natural resources board determines that all
17of the following apply:
AB855,23 18Section 23 . 23.175 (3) (b) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are consolidated,
19renumbered 23.175 (3) (b) and amended to read:
AB855,8,2220 23.175 (3) (b) Expend an amount from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (ta)
21or (tz) or both that equals any of the following: 1. The the amount of a gift, grant,
22or bequest received for a state trail under this section.
AB855,24 23Section 24 . 23.175 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
AB855,25 24Section 25 . 23.29 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB855,9,5
123.29 (1) Intent. It is the intent of the legislature to encourage private
2contributions and land dedications under the Wisconsin natural areas heritage
3program. It is the intent of the legislature to match private contributions and the
4value of land dedications with state funds in addition to funds normally appropriated
5for natural areas land acquisition activities.
AB855,26 6Section 26 . 23.29 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB855,9,177 23.29 (2) Contributions; state match. The department may accept
8contributions and gifts for the Wisconsin natural areas heritage program. The
9department shall convert donations of land which it determines, with the advice of
10the council, are not appropriate for the Wisconsin natural areas heritage program
11into cash. The department shall convert other noncash contributions into cash.
12These moneys shall be deposited in the conservation fund and credited to the
13appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (fu). These moneys shall be matched by an equal
14amount released from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (ta), (tt), or (tz) or from
15any combination of these appropriations to be used for natural areas land acquisition
16activities under s. 23.27 (5). The department shall determine how the moneys being
17released are to be allocated from these appropriations.
AB855,27 18Section 27 . 23.29 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
AB855,28 19Section 28 . 23.29 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB855,9,2520 23.29 (11) Land dedications; partial interest; land of other state agencies;
21access.
The department may not accept land for dedication under the Wisconsin
22natural areas heritage program if the land dedication involves the transfer of a
23partial interest in the land to the state unless adequate provisions for access are
24provided. Land under the ownership of the state but under the management and
25control of another state agency may not be accepted for dedication under the

1Wisconsin natural areas heritage program unless adequate provisions for access are
2provided. Adequate provisions for access are required to include provisions which
3guarantee access to the land by the department and its agents at reasonable times
4to inspect the land and to determine if the articles of dedication are being violated.
5Adequate provisions for access are required to include provisions which guarantee
6to the department and its agents access and rights to the land necessary to exercise
7stewardship responsibilities. Adequate provisions for access may not be required to
8include any provision permitting public access to the land although the department
9shall encourage public access provisions wherever possible and consistent with
10preservation of natural values associated with the land. If public access is permitted,
11the department shall consider this as a factor when making its valuation under sub.
12(3).
Even if public access is permitted, the department may limit access at its
13discretion to protect natural values associated with the land or to facilitate
14stewardship or administration.
AB855,29 15Section 29 . 23.293 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB855,11,216 23.293 (4) Contributions and gifts ; state match. The department may accept
17contributions and gifts for the ice age trail program. The department may convert
18gifts of land which it determines are not appropriate for the ice age trail program into
19cash. The department may convert other noncash contributions and gifts into cash.
20These moneys shall be deposited in the general fund and credited to the
21appropriation under s. 20.370 (7) (gg). An amount equal to the value of all
22contributions and gifts shall be released from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2)
23(ta), (tw) or (tz) or from any combination of these appropriations to be used for land
24acquisition and development activities under s. 23.17. The department shall

1determine how the moneys being released are to be allocated from these
2appropriations.
AB855,30 3Section 30 . 23.293 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
AB855,31 4Section 31 . 25.29 (7) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB855,11,75 25.29 (7) (c) Of the moneys received under s. 70.58, in each fiscal year beginning
6in 2022-23, the department shall set aside $5,000,000 for grants to counties to
7acquire land for county forests under s. 23.0953 (2) (a) 1.
AB855,32 8Section 32 . 25.29 (7) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB855,11,119 25.29 (7) (d) Of the moneys received under s. 70.58, in each fiscal year
10beginning in 2022-23, the department shall set aside $5,000,000 for the acquisition
11of forest land under s. 28.043 (2).
AB855,33 12Section 33 . 28.043 of the statutes is created to read:
AB855,11,14 1328.043 Land acquisition. (1) In this section, “land" means land in fee simple,
14conservation easements, other easements in land, and development rights in land.
AB855,11,16 15(2) The department may use moneys set aside under s. 25.29 (7) (d) to acquire
16forest land for the purposes specified in s. 23.09 (2) (d).
AB855,34 17Section 34 . 70.58 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB855,12,418 70.58 (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), there is levied an annual tax
19of two-tenths of one mill for each dollar of the assessed valuation of the property of
20the state as determined by the department of revenue under s. 70.57, for the purpose
21of acquiring, preserving and developing the forests of the state and for the purpose
22of forest crop law and county forest law administration and aid payments, for grants
23to forestry cooperatives under s. 36.56, and for the acquisition, purchase and
24development of forests described under s. 25.29 (7) (a) and, (b), (c), and (d), the
25proceeds of the tax to be paid into the conservation fund. The tax shall not be levied

1in any year in which general funds are appropriated for the purposes specified in this
2section, equal to or in excess of the amount which the tax would produce and no tax
3shall be levied under this section beginning with the property tax assessments as of
4January 1, 2017.
AB855,12,55 (End)
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