April 20, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Marklein, Tomczyk, Ballweg, Cabral-Guevara, Cowles, Felzkowski, Feyen, James, Pfaff, Quinn, Spreitzer, Testin, Wanggaard and Bradley, cosponsored by Representatives Tranel, VanderMeer, Novak, C. Anderson, Armstrong, Behnke, Binsfeld, Callahan, Conley, Dittrich, Edming, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Gustafson, Hurd, Kitchens, Krug, Kurtz, Magnafici, Murphy, Mursau, O’Connor, Oldenburg, Penterman, Petryk, Plumer, Rettinger, Rozar, Sapik, Schmidt, Schraa, Shankland, Snyder, Sortwell, Spiros, Summerfield, Swearingen, Wittke and Tittl. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
SB247,,22An Act to renumber 86.31 (1) (a); to amend 86.31 (2) (a); and to create 20.395 (2) (fc), 59.58 (6), 86.31 (1) (ac) and 86.31 (3o) of the statutes; relating to: an agricultural roads improvement grant program and making an appropriation. SB247,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill requires the Department of Transportation to establish an agricultural road improvement grant program. Under the program, projects are eligible for reimbursement of up to 100 percent of the costs of a project under the program if all of the following apply:
1. The project is for the improvement of a local road, minor collector, bridge, or culvert (agricultural road facility) that is maintained by a political subdivision.
2. The agricultural road facility provides access to agricultural lands used for the production of agricultural goods and is used by more than one agricultural producer.
3. Due to structural deficiencies, the agricultural road facility is subject to weight limitations at least annually.
4. After completion of the project, the agricultural road facility will not be subject to weight limitations other than under extraordinary or emergency circumstances.
The bill also requires DOT to prioritize projects that improve access by the largest number of agricultural producers, projects that make improvements to agricultural road facilities that are the oldest, projects that will result in the largest reduction in deferred or repeated trips by vehicles of agricultural producers, projects that will result in the greatest positive economic impact, projects making improvements to agricultural road facilities that provide the only feasible route of access, and projects that are the subject of a grant application by a political subdivision that faces demonstrable fiscal or administrative difficulties in completing highway projects.
The bill also requires that for a project under this program, upon request by a grantee, DOT must be designated as a fiscal agent of a grantee that is a political subdivision and that, upon agreement by the grantee and the county, a county may be designated as a fiscal agent of a grantee if the grantee is a town located within the county. If acting as a fiscal agent under this program, DOT or a county must, upon request, pay reimbursable costs for a project when incurred and retain or receive grant moneys in reimbursement of these payments.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
SB247,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: SB247,15Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: