Wisconsin Legislative Council
ACT 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
Prepared by: Benjamin Kranner, Staff Analyst April 1, 2024
2023 Wisconsin Act 244
[2023 Senate Bill 311]
State Aid for Local Fairs
BACKGROUND
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) provides aid to counties and
agricultural societies, associations, or boards to reimburse these entities for a portion of the cash prizes
(“premiums”) awarded to exhibitors at local fairs. No fair, association, or board may receive this state
aid unless its premium list, entry fees, and charges conform to premium lists and other rules
established by DATCP.
2023 WISCONSIN ACT 244
Prior to 2023 Wisconsin Act 244, the statutes limited the amount of state aid that a county or
agricultural society, association, or board could receive to $10,000 per fair. The act raises this limit to
$20,000.
2023 Wisconsin Act 244 also specifies that DATCP may not restrict the number of fairs at which an
exhibitor may participate and be eligible to receive state-aided premium awards.
1
However, the act
retains prior law that allows an entity operating a fair to impose restrictions on the number of fairs at
which an exhibitor may participate while remaining eligible for premiums.
Effective date: March 29, 2024
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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1
In 2022, DATCP promulgated a rule specifying that state aid could not be used to award a premium for an item or
animal that had already received a premium in the same division at another state-aid funded fair earlier in the same
calendar y ear. [See Clearinghouse Rule 21-093.]