SB282: Bill Text

LRB-2771/1

ZDW:klm

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 282

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 An Act to amend 341.35 (1); and to create 341.35 (1m) of the statutes; relating to: 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 Section 1. 341.35 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB282,2,9 341.35 (1) Annual registration fee. In this section “municipality" means a town, village, or city and “motor vehicle" means an automobile or motor truck registered under s. 341.25 (1) (c) at a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds. The Subject to sub. (1m), 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 which are customarily kept in the municipality or county. A registration fee imposed under this section shall be in addition to state registration fees.

SB282,2 Section 2. 341.35 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB282,2,21 341.35 (1m) Referendum required. (a) A municipality or county that proposes to impose a registration fee under sub. (1) shall hold a referendum at a regularly scheduled election. The referendum question shall be substantially as follows: “Shall [name of municipality or county] impose an annual registration fee of [amount of registration fee] on all motor vehicles registered in this state that are customarily kept in [name of municipality or county]?” If the question submitted at the referendum is approved by a majority of the electors who vote in the referendum, the municipality or county may impose the registration fee beginning on the first day of the 4th month beginning after the date of the referendum. If the referendum question is not approved, the municipality or county may not impose any registration fee.

SB282,3,8 (b) A municipality or county that imposes a registration fee prior to the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], shall hold 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 paragraph .... [LRB inserts date]. The referendum question shall be substantially as follows: “Shall [name of municipality or county] continue to impose an annual registration fee of [amount of registration fee] on all motor vehicles registered in this state that are customarily kept in [name of municipality or county]?” If the question submitted at the referendum is approved by a majority of the electors who vote in the referendum, the municipality or county may continue imposing the registration fee. If the referendum question is not approved, the municipality or county may not impose any registration fee after the last day of the 3rd month beginning after the date of the referendum.

SB282,3,9 (End)