Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB331

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/22/23
• Refer: 6/22/23
• Report Pass: 10/19/23
• Refer: 10/19/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Grants to map, control, eradicate, monitor, and minimize the spread of wild parsnip; funding for the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation; granting rule-making authority; and making an appropriation. (FE)

Impact

The implementation of AB331 is primarily expected to enhance local capabilities for invasive species management, fostering cooperation among municipalities, tribes, and conservation groups. The funding appropriated through this bill will allow for strategic responses to the wild parsnip threat, thereby potentially improving local ecosystems and public health. The designation of wild parsnip as a noxious weed necessitates that, for eligibility in obtaining grants, local entities must officially recognize the weed in this category by ordinance or resolution. Such measures reinforce the bill's focus on organized and structured ecological management at local levels.

Summary

Assembly Bill 331 aims to establish a grant program to assist local governments and federally recognized American Indian tribes in managing the invasive species wild parsnip, which has been designated as a noxious weed. Under this bill, the Department of Natural Resources will award up to $100,000 annually in grant funding during the 2023-25 fiscal biennium to support projects intended for mapping, controlling, eradicating, monitoring, and minimizing the spread of wild parsnip. Grants will be limited to a maximum of $10,000 per project and only one grant may be awarded per grantee per cycle. This measure is part of Wisconsin's broader initiative to address invasive species through targeted local action and collaboration with conservation organizations.

Contention

While AB331 has generally been supported due to its proactive approach to invasive species management, concerns may arise regarding the bureaucratic processes involved in grant application and the classification of wild parsnip as a noxious weed. Local governments could face challenges in expediting ordinances or resolutions required to access funding. Additionally, some critics may argue that limited funding may not sufficiently cover extensive regions affected by wild parsnip, risking uneven management efforts across different areas within the state.