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: February 21, 2024 Contact: David Moore, Senior Staff Attorney
2023 Senate Bill 612 Senate Amendment 1
2023 SENATE BILL 612
2023 Senate Bill 612 allows a town to designate any highway or portion of a highway under its
jurisdiction as a seasonally maintained highway. Under the bill, the town is not required to keep a
seasonally maintained highway passable for motor vehicle traffic from December 15 to March 31.
The bill provides that a highway under a town’s jurisdiction is eligible for designation as a seasonally
maintained highway only if all of the following apply:
The highway is designated as a snowmobile route.
The town erects a sign at each point where the seasonally maintained highway begins and at each
point where the seasonally maintained highway intersects a highway that is not designated as a
seasonally maintained highway.
The period of closure begins no earlier than December 15 and ends no later than March 31 of the
following year.
The seasonally maintained highway is not the sole means of access to a residence, a private parcel
containing improvements, an improved boat landing, or a lake larger than 20 acres.
A town designating a seasonally maintained highway must ensure that remaining highways provide for
the most direct access to residences and do not require that a residence be accessed from only one
direction, unless the residence is located on a road that terminates beyond the residence.
Under the bill, a town is not liable for damages or injuries sustained by the operator or passenger of a
motor vehicle that is operated on a seasonally maintained highway during the period that the highway
is closed to motor vehicle traffic.
SENATE AMENDMENT 1
Senate Amendment 1 removes the provision exempting a town from liability for damages or injuries
sustained by the operator or passenger of a motor vehicle operated on a seasonally maintained highway
when the highway is closed to motor vehicle traffic.
BILL HISTORY
Senator Marklein offered Senate Amendment 1 on February 13, 2024. On February 20, 2024, the
Senate adopted the amendment and passed Senate Bill 612, as amended, both on voice votes.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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