Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB969

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/24
• Refer: 1/17/24
• Report Pass: 2/19/24
• Refer: 2/19/24
• Engrossed: 2/22/24
• Refer: 2/26/24
• Enrolled: 3/15/24
• Chaptered: 3/25/24
• Passed: 3/25/24

Caption

The county sale of tax-deeded lands. (FE)

Impact

The bill modifies existing regulations which previously hampered counties in their ability to liquidate tax-delinquent properties efficiently. This includes the removal of the requirement to advertise the sale of property for those counties that provide preference to former owners or their heirs as long as the sale proceeds adequately cover owed delinquent taxes and assessments. This change aims to expedite the sale process and enable counties to recoup more tax revenue.

Summary

Assembly Bill 969 pertains to the sale of tax-deeded lands by counties, proposing changes to improve the process by which counties can dispose of properties obtained through the collection of delinquent property taxes. Key provisions of the bill allow counties to sell these lands through open or closed bidding and to offer preference to both former owners and their beneficiaries, broadening the stakeholder group eligible to repurchase properties. With this shift, the general public will also have access to these sales, thereby increasing market activity in such properties.

Contention

There are notable points of contention surrounding the bill, particularly regarding how it may affect the rights of former owners and their opportunity to reacquire properties. Critics may argue that while the bill does accommodate former owners, it could inadvertently limit transparency in the sale process by potentially sidelining public auction requirements. Furthermore, the barrier that previously protected rights to equity in properties has been removed, which some might view as a disadvantage for former owners unable to reclaim their properties within a designated timeframe.