Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB117 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-2335/1
3	3	ZDW:skw
4	4	2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 117
5	5	March 11, 2025 - Introduced by JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Referred to
6	6	Committee on Sporting Heritage.
7	7
8	8	*AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
9	9	AN ACT to renumber 29.179 (5); to amend 20.370 (5) (fq), 29.179 (4), 29.563
10	10	(13) (a), 29.563 (13) (b), 29.563 (14) (c) 3., 29.563 (14) (c) 4., 29.889 (1) (e),
11	11	29.938 (intro.), 29.977 (1) (b) and 29.983 (1) (b) 2.; to create 20.115 (7) (ac),
12	12	20.370 (1) (hy), 29.165, 29.179 (1) (a) 12., 29.179 (5) (b), 29.180 (1) (a) 8m.,
13	13	29.180 (4m), 29.183 (1) (hm), 29.183 (6), 29.553 (1) (gm), 29.563 (2) (c) 3.,
14	14	29.563 (2) (d) 3., 29.563 (13) (am), 29.563 (14) (a) 4., 29.596 and 93.67 of the
15	15	statutes; relating to: hunting of sandhill cranes, programs related to sandhill
16	16	crane damage, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures,
17	17	granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
18	18	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
19	19	This bill is explained in the NOTES provided by the Joint Legislative Council in
20	20	the bill.
21	21	For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
22	22	printed as an appendix to this bill.
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31	31	9 2025 - 2026 Legislature
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35	35	JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PREFATORY NOTE: This bill was prepared for the
36	36	Joint Legislative Council Study Committee on Sandhill Cranes to: (1) assist
37	37	agricultural producers in preventing damage to corn crops from sandhill cranes; (2)
38	38	authorize the hunting of sandhill cranes; and (3) increase hunting surcharges that
39	39	support payments to agricultural producers for crop damage caused by wild animals.
40	40	Abatement assistance for corn producers
41	41	The bill directs the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
42	42	(DATCP) to administer a program to provide reimbursements to eligible applicants for
43	43	the purchase of seed treatment that is registered for use on corn seed to discourage
44	44	sandhill cranes from consuming the seed. An eligible applicant under the program is a
45	45	person who plants corn on land that is operated as part of a farm that produced at least
46	46	$6,000 in gross farm revenue during the taxable year preceding the year in which a
47	47	person applies for a reimbursement.
48	48	The bill provides for reimbursements of up to 50 percent of the actual cost of the
49	49	purchase of seed treatment, and a reimbursement may not exceed $6,250 per eligible
50	50	applicant per planting season. Each farm may only receive one reimbursement payment
51	51	per year, and a XfarmY, under the bill, consists of all land under common ownership that
52	52	is primarily devoted to agricultural use.
53	53	The bill provides for an application window from March 1 to June 15 of each year,
54	54	during which eligible applicants may apply for reimbursement for seed treatments
55	55	purchased no earlier than November 1 of the prior year. To be eligible for
56	56	reimbursement, applicants must provide DATCP with proof of purchase and an
57	57	application on a form provided by DATCP. The department must make all
58	58	reimbursement payments no later than September 15 following the application window.
59	59	The bill directs DATCP to prioritize reimbursement payments based upon an
60	60	applicant[s receipt of a federal depredation permit for sandhill crane in the previous
61	61	year; an applicant[s receipt of reimbursement under the bill[s program in any of the
62	62	prior three years, or documentation of purchase of seed coating in any of the prior three
63	63	years; and the vulnerability of an applicant[s land to sandhill crane depredation, as
64	64	determined by DATCP in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources and
65	65	applicable conservation organizations. After reimbursing applicants that meet these
66	66	criteria, DATCP must make reimbursement payments on a first-come, first-served
67	67	basis to other eligible applicants that have experienced, or are likely to experience, seed
68	68	or crop damage from sandhill cranes.
69	69	Under the bill, DATCP must compile and submit an annual report to the
70	70	appropriate standing committees of the Legislature. The report must detail the number
71	71	of reimbursements requested and the total dollar amount of these requests. Similarly,
72	72	the report must detail the number of reimbursements issued and the total dollar
73	73	amount of these reimbursements. This report must be provided no later than December
74	74	31 each year.
75	75	The bill grants rule-making authority to DATCP to promulgate administrative
76	76	rules, including emergency rules, to implement provisions regarding the prioritization
77	77	and eligibility of applicants under the program.
78	78	The bill creates a continuing appropriation of general purpose revenue to support
79	79	the program. This appropriation consists of $1,875,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 and
80	80	$1,875,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 for reimbursements, and $85,000 in each of those
81	81	fiscal years for administrative expenses. The bill also authorizes the creation of one
82	82	DATCP position to administer the program.
83	83	The program takes effect on the first day of the 4th month beginning after
84	84	publication, or the 2nd day after publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever
85	85	is later.
86	86	Sandhill crane hunting
87	87	Like many other migratory birds, sandhill cranes are protected by international
88	88	treaty and federal law. Consistent with those protections, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
89	89	Service (USFWS) may authorize a state to initiate a sandhill crane hunting season. 2025 - 2026 Legislature
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93	93	The bill directs the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), upon approval by
94	94	USFWS, to authorize sandhill crane hunting in Wisconsin. The bill requires that DNR
95	95	use permits to control the number of hunters and the number of cranes that may be
96	96	harvested. The bill authorizes DNR to establish closed zones or other restrictions to
97	97	minimize the inadvertent taking of other bird species, including whooping cranes.
98	98	Testimony before the committee indicated that only some sandhill cranes are
99	99	members of breeding pairs, and that harvest of a breeding crane has a greater impact
100	100	on overall species population than harvest of a nonbreeding crane. The bill directs DNR
101	101	to establish restrictions to minimize the likelihood that breeding sandhill cranes are
102	102	disproportionately hunted.
103	103	The bill requires that DNR conduct a free sandhill crane hunter education
104	104	program. A person must complete the program and pass a test before hunting sandhill
105	105	cranes. The program must include specified information about sandhill cranes, such as
106	106	how to distinguish them from other birds, and specified information about applicable
107	107	hunting zones and regulations. The results of the test are valid for one year.
108	108	If demand for sandhill crane hunting permits exceeds supply, the bill requires
109	109	DNR to issue permits according to a cumulative preference system. For any given
110	110	season, a person may apply for either a permit or for a preference point. A person who
111	111	applies unsuccessfully for a permit is awarded instead a preference point. A person may
112	112	accumulate and transfer preference points to certain other persons in the same manner
113	113	as the cumulative preference systems used for other species. A person may transfer a
114	114	permit to certain other persons in the same manner as approvals for other species, to
115	115	the extent allowable by federal law.
116	116	The bill sets the cost of a sandhill crane hunting permit at $20 for a resident and
117	117	$100 for a nonresident. The bill also requires a processing fee of $4.25 and an issuing fee
118	118	of $0.25 for each application for a permit or for a preference point.
119	119	The bill deposits with DNR the revenue raised by the sale of a permit and by the
120	120	processing fee, to be used by DNR as follows: half for the Wildlife Damage Abatement
121	121	and Claims Program (WDACP), described below, and half for developing, managing,
122	122	preserving, restoring, and maintaining the sandhill crane population and for the
123	123	sandhill crane hunter education program.
124	124	Crop damage caused by wild animals
125	125	WDACP provides financial assistance for wildlife damage abatement measures and
126	126	makes payments to agricultural producers for claims regarding damage to agricultural
127	127	crops by certain wildlife. The program is funded in large measure by a wildlife damage
128	128	surcharge on most hunting approvals. Under current law, the surcharge is $2 for a
129	129	resident or nonresident approval, and $4 for a resident or nonresident conservation
130	130	patron license. A conservation patron license consists of a bundle of individual
131	131	approvals and authorizations, such as a small game hunting license, a trapping license,
132	132	and an annual fishing license.
133	133	Under current law, damage caused by a sandhill crane becomes eligible under
134	134	WDACP if hunting of those cranes is authorized by DNR.
135	135	The bill raises the wildlife damage surcharge to the following amounts: $3 for a
136	136	resident approval; $4 for a nonresident approval; $6 for a resident conservation patron
137	137	license; and $8 for a nonresident conservation patron license. However, the bill renders
138	138	these increases contingent on USFWS approving a sandhill crane hunting season in
139	139	Wisconsin.
140	140	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
141	141	enact as follows: 2025 - 2026 Legislature
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145	145	SECTION 1
146	146	SECTION 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place,
147	147	insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
148	148	2025-26 2026-27
149	149	20.115 Agriculture, trade and consumer
150	150	protection, department of
151	151	(7) AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
152	152	(ac) Sandhill crane damage
153	153	reimbursements GPR C 1,875,0001,875,000
154	154	SECTION 2. 20.115 (7) (ac) of the statutes is created to read:
155	155	20.115 (7) (ac) Sandhill crane damage reimbursements. As a continuing
156	156	appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the sandhill crane damage
157	157	reimbursement program under s. 93.67.
158	158	SECTION 3. 20.370 (1) (hy) of the statutes is created to read:
159	159	20.370 (1) (hy) Sandhill crane management. Fifty percent of all moneys
160	160	received from the sale of sandhill crane hunting permits under s. 29.165 and the
161	161	associated processing fee collected under s. 29.563 (14) (a) 4. for developing,
162	162	managing, preserving, restoring, and maintaining the sandhill crane population
163	163	and for the sandhill crane hunter education program under s. 29.596.
164	164	SECTION 4. 20.370 (5) (fq) of the statutes is amended to read:
165	165	20.370 (5) (fq) Wildlife damage claims and abatement. All moneys received
166	166	under ss. 29.181, 29.559 (1r), and 29.563 (13) and not appropriated under par. (fr)
167	167	and subs. (1) (hs), (hx), and (Ls) and (5) (fs) and 50 percent of all moneys received
168	168	from the sale of sandhill crane hunting permits under s. 29.165 and the associated
169	169	processing fee collected under s. 29.563 (14) (a) 4. to provide state aid for the wildlife
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197	197	SECTION 4
198	198	damage abatement program under s. 29.889 (5) (c) and the wildlife damage claim
199	199	program under s. 29.889 (7) (d), for county administration costs under s. 29.889 (2)
200	200	(d), and for payments under s. 29.89.
201	201	SECTION 5. 29.165 of the statutes is created to read:
202	202	29.165 Sandhill crane hunting permits. (1) AUTHORIZATION;
203	203	RESTRICTIONS. (a) Department authority. The department shall authorize the
204	204	hunting of sandhill cranes in this state, subsequent to approval by the U.S. fish and
205	205	wildlife service, and shall issue sandhill crane hunting permits to limit the number
206	206	of hunters of sandhill cranes and the number of sandhill cranes harvested in any
207	207	area of the state. The sandhill crane hunting permit issued by the department
208	208	shall include any restrictions necessary to comply with federal laws and
209	209	regulations. The department shall establish by rule one sandhill crane hunting
210	210	season and may establish by rule closed zones where the hunting of sandhill cranes
211	211	is prohibited. The department may temporarily close a sandhill crane hunting
212	212	season during festivals or ecotourism events related to sandhill cranes. The
213	213	department shall establish restrictions on sandhill crane hunting permits to
214	214	minimize the inadvertent taking of other bird species, to minimize the likelihood
215	215	that breeding sandhill cranes are disproportionately hunted, and to minimize any
216	216	potential impact to whooping cranes.
217	217	(b) Requirements. No person may hunt sandhill cranes unless he or she has a
218	218	valid small game license, or other license that authorizes the hunting of small
219	219	game, and a valid sandhill crane hunting permit.
220	220	(2) ISSUANCE OF PERMITS. (a) Procedure; preference system. If the
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247	247	SECTION 5
248	248	department issues sandhill crane hunting permits under sub. (1) (a), the
249	249	department shall determine the number of permits it will issue for a given sandhill
250	250	crane hunting area and for a given sandhill crane hunting season. If the number of
251	251	applications for sandhill crane hunting permits for a given hunting area or season
252	252	does not exceed the number of available sandhill crane hunting permits allocated by
253	253	the department for that hunting area or that season, the department shall issue a
254	254	sandhill crane hunting permit to each applicant who pays the applicable fee. If the
255	255	number of applications for sandhill crane hunting permits for a given hunting area
256	256	or season exceeds the number of available sandhill crane hunting permits allocated
257	257	by the department for that area or that season, the department shall issue permits
258	258	according to a cumulative preference system. The department shall establish
259	259	preference categories under the cumulative preference system for those applicants
260	260	who applied for but were not issued permits, with higher priority given to those
261	261	categories with more preference points than those with fewer preference points.
262	262	Under the system, the department shall allow each applicant to apply for a
263	263	preference point or for a permit for each sandhill crane hunting season. The
264	264	department shall give a preference point to each applicant who applies for a
265	265	preference point and to each applicant who applies for a permit but who is not
266	266	selected. If the number of applicants within a preference category exceeds the
267	267	number of permits available in the category, the department shall select at random
268	268	within the category the applicants to be issued the permits.
269	269	(b) Loss of preference points. Applicants who fail to apply for either a
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295	295	SECTION 5
296	296	preference point or a permit at least once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose
297	297	all previously accumulated preference points.
298	298	(c) Permit limitation. No person may apply for or receive more than one
299	299	sandhill crane hunting permit for one season.
300	300	(d) Notification; issuance; payment. The department shall issue a notice of
301	301	approval to those applicants selected to receive a sandhill crane hunting permit
302	302	under par. (a). A person who receives a notice of approval and who pays the
303	303	applicable fee in the manner required by the department shall be issued a sandhill
304	304	crane hunting permit.
305	305	(3) USE OF MONEYS FROM FEES. Of the fee amounts collected from the sale of
306	306	sandhill crane hunting permits, including processing of the permits, 50 percent
307	307	shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (1) (hy) and 50
308	308	percent shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (5) (fq).
309	309	SECTION 6. 29.179 (1) (a) 12. of the statutes is created to read:
310	310	29.179 (1) (a) 12. Sandhill crane hunting permit.
311	311	SECTION 7. 29.179 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
312	312	29.179 (4) RETENTION OF PREFERENCE POINTS. Notwithstanding ss. 29.164 (3)
313	313	(cr), 29.165 (2) (b), 29.177 (5) (b), 29.184 (6) (b), and 29.192 (4), a person who is
314	314	transferred an approval under this section shall retain all preference points that he
315	315	or she has previously accumulated for that type of approval.
316	316	SECTION 8. 29.179 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 29.179 (5) (a).
317	317	SECTION 9. 29.179 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
318	318	29.179 (5) (b) This section applies to sandhill crane hunting permits only to
319	319	the extent allowable under federal laws and regulations.
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347	347	SECTION 10
348	348	SECTION 10. 29.180 (1) (a) 8m. of the statutes is created to read:
349	349	29.180 (1) (a) 8m. Sandhill crane hunting permit.
350	350	SECTION 11. 29.180 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
351	351	29.180 (4m) This section applies to sandhill crane hunting permits only to the
352	352	extent allowable under federal laws and regulations.
353	353	SECTION 12. 29.183 (1) (hm) of the statutes is created to read:
354	354	29.183 (1) (hm) Sandhill crane hunting permit.
355	355	SECTION 13. 29.183 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
356	356	29.183 (6) This section applies to sandhill crane hunting permits only to the
357	357	extent allowable under federal laws and regulations.
358	358	SECTION 14. 29.553 (1) (gm) of the statutes is created to read:
359	359	29.553 (1) (gm) Sandhill crane hunting permit.
360	360	SECTION 15. 29.563 (2) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
361	361	29.563 (2) (c) 3. Sandhill crane: $20.
362	362	SECTION 16. 29.563 (2) (d) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
363	363	29.563 (2) (d) 3. Sandhill crane: $100.
364	364	SECTION 17. 29.563 (13) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
365	365	29.563 (13) (a) Surcharge generally. The surcharge for resident approvals
366	366	listed under subs. (2) (a) 1., 2. and 4. to 9. and (b) 1. to 8. and (4) (a) 1. and 1m. and
367	367	(b) 1. and 1m. is $2 $3 and shall be added to the fee specified for these approvals
368	368	under subs. (2) and (4). The surcharge for nonresident approvals listed under subs.
369	369	(2) (b) 1. to 8. and (4) (b) 1. and 1m. is $4 and shall be added to the fee specified for
370	370	these approvals under subs. (2) and (4).
371	371	SECTION 18. 29.563 (13) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
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399	399	SECTION 18
400	400	29.563 (13) (am) Surcharge for sandhill crane permit. The surcharge for a
401	401	resident sandhill crane hunting permit shall be $3 and the surcharge for a
402	402	nonresident sandhill crane hunting permit shall be $4. This surcharge shall be
403	403	paid together with the processing fee specified in sub. (14) (a) 4.
404	404	SECTION 19. 29.563 (13) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
405	405	29.563 (13) (b) Surcharge for conservation patron license. The surcharge for
406	406	resident licenses listed under sub. (4) (a) 2. and 2m. and (b) 2. and 2m. is $4 $6 and
407	407	shall be added to the fee specified for these approvals under sub. (4). The surcharge
408	408	for nonresident licenses listed under sub. (4) (b) 2. and 2m. is $8 and shall be added
409	409	to the fee specified for these approvals under sub. (4).
410	410	SECTION 20. 29.563 (14) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
411	411	29.563 (14) (a) 4. The processing fee for applications for sandhill crane
412	412	hunting permits: $4.25.
413	413	SECTION 21. 29.563 (14) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
414	414	29.563 (14) (c) 3. Each application for a hunter[s choice permit, bonus deer
415	415	hunting permit, elk hunting license, wild turkey hunting license, Class A bear
416	416	license, wolf harvesting license, Canada goose hunting permit, sandhill crane
417	417	hunting permit, sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit, bobcat hunting and trapping
418	418	permit, otter trapping permit, fisher trapping permit, or sturgeon fishing permit:
419	419	25 cents.
420	420	SECTION 22. 29.563 (14) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
421	421	29.563 (14) (c) 4. Each bonus deer hunting permit issued for which a fee is
422	422	charged under sub. (2) (c) 1. or 1m. or (d) 1. or 2.: 75 cents.
423	423	SECTION 23. 29.596 of the statutes is created to read:
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451	451	SECTION 23
452	452	29.596 Sandhill crane hunter education program. (1) The department
453	453	shall establish and conduct a sandhill crane hunter education program. The
454	454	program shall provide a course of instruction that includes all of the following:
455	455	(a) History and recovery of the sandhill crane in this state and in the eastern
456	456	United States.
457	457	(b) Methods used to distinguish sandhill cranes from other birds.
458	458	(c) Methods used to estimate the population of sandhill cranes in the state.
459	459	(d) Areas covered by sandhill crane hunting zones.
460	460	(e) Any rules promulgated by the department concerning the hunting of
461	461	sandhill cranes.
462	462	(2) The department shall offer a test for a person to demonstrate successful
463	463	completion of the course of instruction and shall issue a certificate of
464	464	accomplishment for free to a person who completes the course of instruction and
465	465	passes the test. A certificate of accomplishment issued under this subsection is
466	466	valid for one year. At least once each year, the department shall offer the test to any
467	467	person who has previously completed the course of instruction to allow the person
468	468	to renew their certificate of accomplishment for one year.
469	469	(3) No person may hunt sandhill cranes unless he or she has a current, valid
470	470	certificate of accomplishment issued under sub. (2).
471	471	(4) If the department maintains a system under which the department stores
472	472	information in an electronic format as described under s. 23.47 (2), the department
473	473	shall store information in that system relating to persons who have completed a
474	474	sandhill crane hunter education program, and any associated tests, that satisfies
475	475	the requirements of this section.
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499	499	24 2025 - 2026 Legislature
500	500	ASSEMBLY BILL 117
501	501	- 11 - LRB-2335/1
502	502	ZDW:skw
503	503	SECTION 23
504	504	(5) The department may not charge a fee for the course of instruction under
505	505	sub. (1) or the test under sub. (2).
506	506	SECTION 24. 29.889 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
507	507	29.889 (1) (e) Sandhill crane, if hunting of sandhill cranes is authorized by the
508	508	department subsequent to approval by the U.S. fish and wildlife service.
509	509	SECTION 25. 29.938 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
510	510	29.938 Use by the department of unclaimed, seized, or confiscated
511	511	property. (intro.) The department may receive, retain, and use for the hunter
512	512	education programs under ss. 29.591 and, 29.595, and 29.596, the trapper
513	513	education program under s. 29.597, or other educational hunting, fishing, trapping,
514	514	or conservation activities the department conducts any of the following property:
515	515	SECTION 26. 29.977 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
516	516	29.977 (1) (b) Any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill sandhill crane,
517	517	$262.50.
518	518	SECTION 27. 29.983 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
519	519	29.983 (1) (b) 2. For any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill sandhill
520	520	crane, $262.50.
521	521	SECTION 28. 93.67 of the statutes is created to read:
522	522	93.67 Sandhill crane damage reimbursement program. (1) In this
523	523	section:
524	524	(a) XEligible applicantY means a person that plants corn on land that is
525	525	operated as part of a farm that produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenues
526	526	during the taxable year preceding the year in which the person applies for
527	527	reimbursement under this section.
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551	551	24 2025 - 2026 Legislature
552	552	ASSEMBLY BILL 117
553	553	- 12 - LRB-2335/1
554	554	ZDW:skw
555	555	SECTION 28
556	556	(b) XFarmY means all land under common ownership that is primarily devoted
557	557	to agricultural use.
558	558	(c) XSeed coatingY means a nonlethal treatment registered for use on corn seed
559	559	to discourage sandhill cranes from consuming the seed.
560	560	(2) (a) The department shall administer a program to provide
561	561	reimbursements to eligible applicants for the purchase of seed coating that is
562	562	applied as a seed treatment.
563	563	(b) A reimbursement under this section shall cover not more than 50 percent
564	564	of the actual cost of the purchase of seed coating that is applied as a seed treatment
565	565	and may not exceed $6,250 per eligible applicant per planting season.
566	566	(c) From March 1 to June 15 of each year, eligible applicants may apply to the
567	567	department for reimbursement for seed coating purchased no earlier than
568	568	November 1 of the prior year. Eligible applicants shall provide to the department
569	569	proof of purchase and an application on a form provided by the department to be
570	570	eligible to receive a reimbursement under this section.
571	571	(d) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall
572	572	prioritize reimbursement payments under par. (c) to all of the following:
573	573	1. Eligible applicants that received a federal depredation permit for sandhill
574	574	crane in the previous year.
575	575	2. Eligible applicants that received reimbursement under this section in any
576	576	of the prior 3 years or that can provide documentation of purchase of seed coating in
577	577	any of the prior 3 years.
578	578	3. Eligible applicants planting corn on land vulnerable to sandhill crane
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601	601	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
602	602	ASSEMBLY BILL 117
603	603	- 13 - LRB-2335/1
604	604	ZDW:skw
605	605	SECTION 28
606	606	depredation as determined by the department in consultation with the department
607	607	of natural resources and applicable conservation organizations.
608	608	(e) After reimbursing all eligible applicants under par. (d), from the
609	609	appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall make reimbursement
610	610	payments to other eligible applicants that have experienced or are likely to
611	611	experience seed or crop damage from sandhill cranes. The department shall make
612	612	payments under this paragraph to eligible applicants in the order in which
613	613	applications are received by the department.
614	614	(f) The department shall make all reimbursement payments under pars. (d)
615	615	and (e) no later than September 15 of the year in which applications are made
616	616	under par. (c).
617	617	(g) A farm is eligible to receive only one reimbursement payment per year
618	618	under this section.
619	619	(3) The department shall compile an annual report detailing the number of
620	620	reimbursements requested, the total dollar amount requested as reimbursement,
621	621	the number of reimbursements issued, and the total dollar amount disbursed as
622	622	reimbursement under this section. The department shall submit the report to the
623	623	appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided in s.
624	624	13.172 (3) no later than December 31 each year.
625	625	(4) The department may promulgate rules to establish prioritization of
626	626	payments under sub. (2) (d) and (e), including identifying applicable conservation
627	627	organizations under sub. (2) (d) 3. and determining whether eligible applicants
628	628	have experienced or are likely to experience seed or crop damage under sub. (2) (e).
629	629	SECTION 29. Nonstatutory provisions.
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653	653	24 2025 - 2026 Legislature
654	654	ASSEMBLY BILL 117
655	655	- 14 - LRB-2335/1
656	656	ZDW:skw
657	657	SECTION 29
658	658	(1) FEDERAL APPROVAL OF SANDHILL CRANE HUNTING. When the department
659	659	of natural resources receives approval from the U.S. fish and wildlife service to
660	660	authorize the hunting of sandhill cranes in this state, the department shall notify
661	661	the legislative reference bureau. The legislative reference bureau shall publish a
662	662	notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register that specifies that date.
663	663	(2) EMERGENCY RULES. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer
664	664	protection may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules
665	665	under s. 93.67 (4) for the period before the date on which permanent rules under s.
666	666	93.67 (4) take effect. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules
667	667	promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until the first day of the 25th
668	668	month beginning after the effective date of the emergency rules, the date on which
669	669	the permanent rules take effect, or the effective date of the repeal of the emergency
670	670	rules, whichever is earlier. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the
671	671	department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection is not required to provide
672	672	evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is
673	673	necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not
674	674	required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this
675	675	subsection.
676	676	SECTION 30. Fiscal changes.
677	677	(1) In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department
678	678	of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (7) (a), the dollar
679	679	amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $85,000 and the dollar amount for
680	680	fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $85,000 to increase the authorized FTE positions
681	681	for the department by 1.0 GPR position to administer the sandhill crane damage
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705	705	24 2025 - 2026 Legislature
706	706	ASSEMBLY BILL 117
707	707	- 15 - LRB-2335/1
708	708	ZDW:skw
709	709	SECTION 30
710	710	reimbursement program under s. 93.67 and for administrative costs related to the
711	711	program.
712	712	SECTION 31. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after
713	713	publication, except as follows:
714	714	(1) The treatment of s. 29.563 (13) (a) and (b) takes effect on the date specified
715	715	in the notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under SECTION 29
716	716	(1) of this act.
717	717	(2) The treatment of ss. 20.005 (3), 20.115 (7) (ac), and 93.67 takes effect on
718	718	the first day of the 4th month beginning after publication, or on the 2nd day after
719	719	publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
720	720	(END)
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