December 8, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Kitchens, Binsfeld, Brandtjen, Edming, Macco, O’Connor, Penterman, Sinicki and Duchow, cosponsored by Senators Marklein, Cowles and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation.
AB818,,22An Act to create 27.01 (10) (d) 1m. of the statutes; relating to: reservations and fees for camping in certain state parks and modifying administrative rules of the Department of Natural Resources. AB818,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill modifies the process and fees for reserving camping sites in certain state parks, which are established by law and in administrative rules of the Department of Natural Resources.
Currently, camping reservations (reservations) may be made 11 months in advance, and nonresidents pay a higher camping fee than residents. Current law also authorizes DNR to determine which state campgrounds are located in areas where market conditions justify higher camping fees and to promulgate rules establishing higher camping fees for those campgrounds.
Under the bill, for those campgrounds for which DNR has established these higher camping fees, residents may begin making reservations 11 months in advance and nonresidents may begin making reservations 14 days later. A resident who makes a reservation during the 14-day window before a nonresident may do so must pay the nonresident camping fee for each night of the reservation, in addition to the increased fee established by DNR.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AB818,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: AB818,15Section 1. 27.01 (10) (d) 1m. of the statutes is created to read: AB818,,6627.01 (10) (d) 1m. For campsites for which increased fees have been established under par. (h), the department shall charge a camping fee equal to the camping fee under subd. 2. for each night for a resident camping party that reserves the campsite in the 14-day period during which only residents may apply for reservations as provided by the department by rule, except as provided under par. (fm). The fee established under this subdivision is in addition to any increased fee established under par. (h). AB818,27Section 2. NR 45.10 (3) (a) of the administrative code is amended to read: AB818,,88NR 45.10 (3) (a) Reservation applications may be accepted for camping up to 11 months before the date of occupancy. For campgrounds identified in s. NR 45.12 (2) (b) 5., reservation applications by residents may be accepted for camping up to 11 months before the date of occupancy, and reservation applications by nonresidents may be accepted for camping beginning 14 days after the date applicable to residents. The following minimum stays shall apply: AB818,39Section 3. Effective dates. Notwithstanding s. 227.265, this act takes effect on June 1, 2025.
