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Wisconsin Legislature: SB961: Bill Text
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SB961: Bill Text
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2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-3396/3
EHS:skw
2025 SENATE BILL 961
February 6, 2026 - Introduced by Senators
Stafsholt
and
Quinn
, cosponsored by Representatives
Green
and
B. Jacobson
. Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage.
SB961,1,3
1
An Act
to create
23.176 and 23.47 (1) (e) of the statutes;
relating to:
cross-
2
country ski permits, granting rule-making authority, and making an
3
appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill prohibits a person from cross-country skiing on state-owned land unless a cross-country ski permit is permanently affixed in a highly visible location on the forward half of one ski or the person is carrying proof of a valid temporary cross-country ski permit receipt, which the person must exhibit to DNR or its wardens or other law enforcement officers on demand. Under the bill, a temporary cross-country ski permit receipt means a receipt issued by DNR or its agent that shows that an application and the required fees for a cross-country ski permit have been submitted.
The bill excludes from this prohibition vehicle admission areas, where, under current law, a vehicle admission receipt is generally required in order for a vehicle to enter. Vehicle admission areas include all state parks, the Richard Bong state recreation area, the Wisconsin Dells natural area, the Point Beach state forest, certain recreational areas in other state forests, certain designated use zones within recreation areas, and most roadside parks. Under the bill, a person who is authorized to cross-country ski on state-owned land under a separate trail pass or as part of an organized event is not required to have a cross-country ski permit. The bill specifies that a cross-country ski permit does not authorize a person to cross-country ski in an area on state-owned land where cross-country skiing is prohibited.
Under the bill, DNR must issue a cross-country ski permit and a temporary cross-country ski permit receipt to a person who applies for the permit and who pays the required fees, and the permit is valid for the calendar year in which it is issued. The bill authorizes DNR to directly issue the permits and receipts or appoint persons who are not DNR employees as its agents to issue the permits and receipts. The bill sets the fee for the permit at $40 for an adult, $20 for a child age 12 or older, and $0 for a child under the age of 12, with a 75 cent issuing fee for each permit issued to a person 12 years of age or older. The bill allows a DNR agent to retain 50 cents of such an issuing fee as compensation for issuing temporary cross-country ski permit receipts.
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:
SB961,1
1
Section
1
.
23.176 of the statutes is created to read:
SB961,2,2
2
23.176
Cross-country ski permit.
(1)
Definitions.
In this section:
SB961,2,5
3
(a) “Proof” means the original cross-country ski permit or temporary cross-
4
country ski permit receipt issued by the department or an agent appointed under
5
sub. (3) (d) 2. or any alternative form of proof designated by rule under s. 23.47 (1).
SB961,2,9
6
(b) “Temporary cross-country ski permit receipt” means a receipt issued by
7
the department or an agent under sub. (3) (d) 2. that shows that an application and
8
the required fees under sub. (4) for a cross-country ski permit have been submitted
9
to the department or an agent appointed under sub. (3) (d) 2.
SB961,2,10
10
(c) “Vehicle admission area” has the meaning given in s. 27.01 (7) (a) 3.
SB961,3,3
11
(
2
) Permit required.
(a) Except as provided under par. (b), no person may
12
cross-country ski on land owned by the state in areas where cross-country skiing is
13
authorized, excluding a vehicle admission area, unless a cross-country ski permit
14
issued under this section is permanently affixed in a highly visible location on the
1
forward half of one ski or the person is carrying proof of a valid temporary cross-
2
country ski permit receipt, which the person shall exhibit to the department or its
3
wardens or other law enforcement officers on demand.
SB961,3,5
4
(b) A person is not required to have a cross-country ski permit under par. (a)
5
in order to cross-country ski on land owned by the state if any of the following apply:
SB961,3,7
6
1. The person is authorized to cross-country ski on the land as part of an
7
organized and authorized event.
SB961,3,9
8
2. The person is authorized to cross-country ski on a state trail under a trail
9
pass issued by the department under s. 23.175.
SB961,3,12
10
(c) A cross-country ski permit issued under this section does not authorize a
11
person to cross-country ski in an area on land owned by the state where cross-
12
country skiing is prohibited.
SB961,3,20
13
(
3
)
Issuance.
(a) The department shall issue a cross-country ski permit and
14
a temporary cross-country ski permit receipt to a person who applies for the permit
15
and who pays the fees required under sub. (4). The application for a cross-country
16
ski permit shall be on the form and contain the information required by the
17
department. The department or an agent appointed under par. (d) 2. may not issue
18
a cross-country ski permit or a temporary cross-country ski permit receipt to the
19
applicant until the applicant complies with the requirements specified in this
20
paragraph.
SB961,3,22
21
(b) A cross-country ski permit issued under this section is valid for the
22
calendar year in which it is issued.
SB961,4,2
23
(c) The department shall prepare, procure the printing of, and supply all
1
necessary forms for applications and cross-country ski permits issued under this
2
section.
SB961,4,5
3
(d) In the course of issuing cross-country ski permits and temporary cross-
4
country ski permit receipts under this section, the department may do any of the
5
following:
SB961,4,7
6
1. Directly issue the cross-country ski permits and temporary cross-country
7
ski permit receipts.
SB961,4,10
8
2. Appoint persons who are not employees of the department to issue the
9
cross-country ski permits and temporary cross-country ski permit receipts as
10
agents of the department.
SB961,4,12
11
(e) The department may promulgate rules regulating the activities of persons
12
who are authorized as agents under par. (d) 2.
SB961,4,15
13
(
4
)
Fees.
(a) A person who applies for a cross-country ski permit under this
14
section shall pay one of the following fees to the department, whichever is
15
applicable:
SB961,4,16
16
1. For an adult, $40.
SB961,4,17
17
2. For a child 12 years of age or older, $20.
SB961,4,18
18
3. For a child under the age of 12, $0.
SB961,5,2
19
(b) Any person, including the department, that issues a cross-country ski
20
permit or temporary cross-country ski permit receipt under this section to a person
21
12 years of age or older shall collect, in addition to the applicable fee under par. (a),
22
an issuing fee of 75 cents. An agent appointed under sub. (3) (d) 2. may retain 50
23
cents of each issuing fee to compensate the agent for the agent’s services in issuing
24
the temporary cross-country ski permit receipt. Any issuing fee collected by an
1
employee of the department shall be remitted to the department together with the
2
fee under par. (a).
SB961,2
3
Section
2
.
23.47 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB961,5,5
4
23.47
(1)
(e) A cross-country ski permit or temporary cross-country ski permit
5
receipt under s. 23.176.
SB961,5,6
6
(end)
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