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LRB-2771/1
ZDW:klm
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
June 7, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Craig, Jacque, Kapenga, Nass, Stroebel
and Bernier, cosponsored by Representatives Sanfelippo, Brandtjen,
Hutton, Jagler, Knodl, Kuglitsch, Magnafici, Neylon, Ott, Quinn,
Ramthun, Sortwell, Tauchen, Thiesfeldt, Tusler and Wichgers. Referred
to Committee on Transportation, Veterans and Military Affairs.
SB282,1,2 1An Act to amend 341.35 (1); and to create 341.35 (1m) of the statutes; relating
2to:
requiring a local referendum to impose a wheel tax.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill provides that a municipal or county vehicle registration fee, commonly
known as a wheel tax, may be imposed only if approved by a majority of electors
voting in a referendum at a regularly scheduled election.
Under current law, the governing body of a municipality or county may enact
an ordinance imposing an annual flat municipal or county registration fee on all
motor vehicles registered in this state that are customarily kept in the municipality
or county. The fees collected are required to be used only for transportation-related
purposes.
Under this bill, a municipality or county that proposes to impose a registration
fee is required to hold a referendum at a regularly scheduled election. The
registration fee may be imposed only if approved by a majority of the electors who
vote in the referendum. Registration fees imposed prior to the effective date of this
bill must be approved by a majority of electors voting in a referendum at a regularly
scheduled election occurring not later than the first day of the 18th month beginning
after the effective date of this bill.
For further information see the state and local 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:
SB282,1
1Section 1. 341.35 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB282,2,92 341.35 (1) Annual registration fee. In this section “municipality" means a
3town, village, or city and “motor vehicle" means an automobile or motor truck
4registered under s. 341.25 (1) (c) at a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds.
5The Subject to sub. (1m), the governing body of a municipality or county may enact
6an ordinance imposing an annual flat municipal or county registration fee on all
7motor vehicles registered in this state which are customarily kept in the municipality
8or county. A registration fee imposed under this section shall be in addition to state
9registration fees.
SB282,2 10Section 2. 341.35 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB282,2,2111 341.35 (1m) Referendum required. (a) A municipality or county that proposes
12to impose a registration fee under sub. (1) shall hold a referendum at a regularly
13scheduled election. The referendum question shall be substantially as follows:
14“Shall [name of municipality or county] impose an annual registration fee of [amount
15of registration fee] on all motor vehicles registered in this state that are customarily
16kept in [name of municipality or county]?” If the question submitted at the
17referendum is approved by a majority of the electors who vote in the referendum, the
18municipality or county may impose the registration fee beginning on the first day of
19the 4th month beginning after the date of the referendum. If the referendum
20question is not approved, the municipality or county may not impose any registration
21fee.
SB282,3,822 (b) A municipality or county that imposes a registration fee prior to the effective
23date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], shall hold a referendum at a regularly
24scheduled election occurring not later than the first day of the 18th month beginning
25after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date]. The referendum

1question shall be substantially as follows: “Shall [name of municipality or county]
2continue to impose an annual registration fee of [amount of registration fee] on all
3motor vehicles registered in this state that are customarily kept in [name of
4municipality or county]?” If the question submitted at the referendum is approved
5by a majority of the electors who vote in the referendum, the municipality or county
6may continue imposing the registration fee. If the referendum question is not
7approved, the municipality or county may not impose any registration fee after the
8last day of the 3rd month beginning after the date of the referendum.
SB282,3,99 (End)
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