Wisconsin Legislative Council
AMENDMENT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Memo published: November 20, 2023 Contact: Will Krentz, Legal Intern, and Patrick Ward, Staff Attorney
2023 Senate Bill 274 Senate Amendment 1
2023 SENATE BILL 274
2023 Senate Bill 274 decreases the real estate transfer fee and provides incremental increases to the
county’s share of the collected fees. Under current law, a person conveying real estate to another must
pay a real estate transfer fee to the county register of deeds. The fee is 30 cents for each $100 of value of
the real estate. The county retains 20 percent of the fees collected and transmits the remainder to the
state. Senate Bill 274 decreases the fee to 20 cents per $100 of land value. The bill also provides that in
2023 and 2024, the county will retain 30 percent of the fees, in 2025, the county will retain 40 percent,
and in 2026 and beyond, the county will retain 50 percent of the fees. The bill does not prescribe an
effective date and would take effect the day after its date of publication.
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SENATE AMENDMENT 1
Senate Amendment 1 alters the initial applicability of the bill by specifying that the effective date is “the
first day of the 3
rd
month” following publication.
BILL HISTORY
Senator Stafsholt offered Senate Amendment 1 on June 22, 2023. On November 15, 2023, the Senate
Committee on Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry recommended adoption of Senate Amendment 1 and
passage of the bill, as amended, both on votes of Ayes, 5; Noes, 0.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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Under s. 991.11, Stats., any act that does not prescribe an effective date will take effect on the day following the day of
publication.