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SB964 • 2025

registration requirements for nonmotorized boats

registration requirements for nonmotorized boats

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Senators Stafsholt and Quinn, cosponsored by Representatives Green and B. Jacobson
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
S - Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

registration requirements for nonmotorized boats

registration requirements for nonmotorized boats Status: S - Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage

What This Bill Does

  • registration requirements for nonmotorized boats Status: S - Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-23 Sen.

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. 2026-03-04 Sen.

    Fiscal estimate received

  3. 2026-02-06 Sen.

    Introduced by Senators Stafsholt and Quinn ; cosponsored by Representatives Green and B. Jacobson

  4. 2026-02-06 Sen.

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage

Official Summary Text

registration requirements for nonmotorized boats
Status: S - Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Wisconsin Legislature: SB964: Bill Text

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SB964: Bill Text

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2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-5169/4
EHS:cdc/emw/skw
2025 SENATE BILL 964
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.
SB964,1,2
1
An Act

to amend
30.51 (2) (a) 1. and 20.370 (9) (hu);
to create
30.51 (2) (a) 1m.
2
of the statutes;
relating to:
registration requirements for nonmotorized boats.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, no person may operate, and no owner may give permission for the operation of, any boat on the waters of the state unless the boat is covered by a registration issued by the Department of Natural Resources or is exempt from that registration requirement. This bill narrows a current law exemption from registration requirements for a nonmotorized boat that is not a sailboat so that it only applies if one occupant of the boat holds a valid fishing license. Current law defines “nonmotorized boat” to mean a boat that is not a motorboat but that is designed and constructed to be used as a boat for transportation of a person on water, including a canoe, sailboat, inflatable boat or similar device, row boat, raft, or dinghy that is not a motorboat.
The bill adds another exemption for a nonmotorized boat that is not a sailboat and that is operated within a vehicle admission area 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.
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:
SB964,1
1
Section

1
.
20.370 (9) (hu) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB964,2,9
2
20.370
(9)
(hu)
Handling and other fees.
All moneys received by the
3
department as provided under ss. 23.33 (2) (i), (ig), and (o) and (2j) (f) 4., 23.335 (4)
4
(hm) and (5) (h), 29.2297, 29.556, 30.52 (1m) (a), (ag), and (e) and (3) (k), 30.537 (4)
5
(g), and 350.12 (3) (f), (3h) (a), (ag), and (g), and (3j) (e) 4.
, excluding fees under s.
6
30.52 (1m) (a) for the issuance of an original certificate of number or registration for
7
a nonmotorized boat that is not a sailboat,
for the issuing of department and federal
8
approvals under ch. 29 and for the issuing and renewing of certificates and
9
registrations by the department.
SB964,2
10
Section

2
.
30.51 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB964,2,12
11
30.51
(2)
(a) 1. A nonmotorized boat
which

that
is not a sailboat
and in which
12
one occupant holds a valid fishing license under ch. 29
.
SB964,3
13
Section

3
.
30.51 (2) (a) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:
SB964,2,15
14
30.51
(2)
(a) 1m. A nonmotorized boat that is not a sailboat and that is
15
operated within a vehicle admission area, as defined in s. 27.01 (7) (a) 3.
SB964,2,16
16
(end)

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