AB481: Bill Text

2021 Assembly BILL 481

July 26, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives August, Loudenbeck, Horlacher, Spiros, Wichgers, Brooks, Rozar, Steffen, Kuglitsch, Gundrum, Murphy, Subeck, Dittrich, Brandtjen, Mursau, Kurtz, Moses and Born, cosponsored by Senators Petrowski, Nass and Cowles. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB481,1,3 An Act to repeal 341.307; to amend 25.40 (1) (a) 3. and 84.59 (2) (b); and to create 341.14 (3m) and 341.147 of the statutes; relating to: motor vehicle fleet registration and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under this bill, an owner of a fleet of 10 or more automobiles or motor trucks with a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds may register the vehicles as a fleet. Vehicles registered as a fleet are subject to the same annual registration fee as regularly applies to the type of vehicle, plus a onetime initial issuance fee of $8.50 for each vehicle. The Department of Transportation must provide, to the extent feasible, all vehicles registered as part of a particular fleet with the same registration expiration date and must issue registration plates of a distinctive design with the word “Fleet” embossed on the plate for all of the vehicles in the fleet. The bill also requires DOT to establish an electronic renewal system for renewals of fleet registrations, use of which is mandatory for fleet owners.

Under current law, a separate provision allows an owner of a fleet of vehicles, of a fleet size determined by DOT by rule, to register the vehicles for a three-year period. The bill repeals this provision.

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:

AB481,1 Section 1. 25.40 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB481,2,8 25.40 (1) (a) 3. Revenues collected under ss. 341.09 (2) (d), (2m) (a) 1., (4), and (7), 341.14 (2), (2m), (6) (d), (6m) (a), (6r) (b) 2., (6w), and (8), 341.145 (3), 341.147 (3), 341.16 (1) (a) and (b), (2), (2e), and (2m), 341.17 (8), 341.19 (1), 341.25, 341.255 (1), (2) (a), (b), and (c), and (5), 341.26 (1), (2), (2m) (am) and (b), (3), (3m), (4), (5), and (7), 341.264 (1), 341.265 (1), 341.266 (2) (b) and (3), 341.268 (2) (b) and (3), 341.269 (2) (b), 341.30 (3), 341.305 (3), 341.307 (4) (a), 341.308 (3), 341.36 (1) and (1m), 341.51 (2), and 342.14 that are pledged to any fund created under s. 84.59 (2).

AB481,2 Section 2. 84.59 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB481,3,2 84.59 (2) (b) The department may, under s. 18.562, deposit in a separate and distinct special fund outside the state treasury, in an account maintained by a trustee, revenues derived under ss. 341.09 (2) (d), (2m) (a) 1., (4), and (7), 341.14 (2), (2m), (6) (d), (6m) (a), (6r) (b) 2., (6w), and (8), 341.145 (3), 341.147 (3), 341.16 (1) (a) and (b), (2), (2e), and (2m), 341.17 (8), 341.19 (1), 341.25, 341.255 (1), (2) (a), (b), and (c), and (5), 341.26 (1), (2), (2m) (am) and (b), (3), (3m), (4), (5), and (7), 341.264 (1), 341.265 (1), 341.266 (2) (b) and (3), 341.268 (2) (b) and (3), 341.269 (2) (b), 341.30 (3), 341.305 (3), 341.307 (4) (a), 341.308 (3), 341.36 (1) and (1m), 341.51 (2), and 342.14 and from any payments received with respect to agreements or ancillary arrangements entered into under s. 18.55 (6) with respect to revenue obligations issued under this section. The revenues deposited are the trustee's revenues in accordance with the agreement between this state and the trustee or in accordance with the resolution pledging the revenues to the repayment of revenue obligations issued under this section. Revenue obligations issued for the purposes specified in sub. (1) and for the repayment of which revenues are deposited under this paragraph are special fund obligations, as defined in s. 18.52 (7), issued for special fund programs, as defined in s. 18.52 (8).

AB481,3 Section 3. 341.14 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB481,3,4 341.14 (3m) For vehicles registered under s. 341.147, as specified in s. 341.147.

AB481,4 Section 4. 341.147 of the statutes is created to read:

AB481,3,8 341.147 Fleet registration plates. (1) The owner of a fleet of 10 or more vehicles that are automobiles or motor trucks with a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds may upon application register the vehicles under this section.

AB481,3,17 (2) Upon receipt of an application and the initial registration fees, the department shall issue registration plates of a distinctive design with the word “Fleet” embossed on the plate for all of the vehicles in the fleet. Notwithstanding s. 341.13 (1), the department may not require the placement of an annual registration decal on a registration plate under this subsection. The department shall provide, to the extent feasible, the same registration expiration date for each vehicle in a fleet. A vehicle may be registered as part of a fleet under this section regardless of whether, at the time of application for the initial registration of the fleet, the vehicle is currently registered with the department.

AB481,3,21 (3) A vehicle under this section shall be registered annually at the regular annual fee under s. 341.25 for the type of vehicle. In addition to the annual registration fee, the department shall charge an initial issuance fee of $8.50 for the initial registration of each vehicle registered as part of a fleet under this section.

AB481,3,25 (4) The department shall establish a system by which the registration of a fleet of vehicles under this section may be renewed by electronic means. A fleet owner who registers a fleet of vehicles under this section shall renew the registration of the fleet of vehicles using the system established under this subsection.

AB481,5 Section 5. 341.307 of the statutes is repealed.

AB481,6 Section 6 . Fiscal changes.

AB481,4,8 (1) In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of transportation under s. 20.395 (5) (cq), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2021-22 is increased by $85,000 for the purposes for which the appropriation is made. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of transportation under s. 20.395 (5) (cq), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2022-23 is increased by $85,000 for the purposes for which the appropriation is made.

AB481,7 Section 7. Effective date.

AB481,4,11 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 9th month beginning after publication.

AB481,4,12 (End)