2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
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2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 209
April 23, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives ZIMMERMAN, KNODL, MURSAU,
PENTERMAN and PIWOWARCZYK, cosponsored by Senator JACQUE. Referred to
Committee on Environment.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to create 20.370 (9) (pq), 20.465 (3) (v), 20.465 (3) (w), 20.465 (3) (x),
23.199, 25.17 (1) (gg), 25.34 and 323.65 of the statutes; relating to: creating a
hazard mitigation revolving loan program, creating a Great Lakes erosion
control revolving loan program, providing an exemption from emergency rule
procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill authorizes the creation of a hazard mitigation revolving loan program
to be administered by the Department of Military Affairs and requires the creation
of a Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program to be administered by the
Department of Natural Resources.
Hazard mitigation revolving loan program
The bill authorizes the Division of Emergency Management within DMA to
enter into an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
to receive federal grant funding for the purpose of establishing a hazard mitigation
revolving loan program. The bill creates a separate, nonlapsible trust fund,
designated as the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund, to accept money from
FEMA under the federal Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation
(STORM) Act, P.L. 116-284. Under the bill, if DMA enters into such an agreement
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with FEMA, the secretary of administration must transfer from the general fund to
the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund an amount equal to 10 percent of any
money received from the federal government, and DMA must provide loans to local
units of government for hazard mitigation projects in accordance with the
requirements of the STORM Act.
Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program
The bill requires DNR to administer a revolving loan program to assist
municipalities and owners of homes located on the shore of Lake Michigan or Lake
Superior where the structural integrity of municipal buildings or homes is
threatened by erosion of the shoreline. The bill appropriates $5,000,000 to DNR for
this purpose and increases DNR[s position authorization by 0.5 FTE to administer
the program. The bill requires DNR to promulgate rules to administer the
program, including eligibility requirements and income limitations, and authorizes
DNR to promulgate emergency rules for the period before permanent rules take
effect.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place,
insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
2025-26 2026-27
20.370 Natural resources, department of
(9) EXTERNAL SERVICES
(pq) Great Lakes erosion control
revolving loan program SEG C 5,000,000 -0-
20.465 Military affairs, department of
(3) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
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2025-26 2026-27
(v) Hazard mitigation revolving loan
program; payments SEG C -0- -0-
(w) Hazard mitigation revolving loan
program; state funds SEG C -0- -0-
(x) Hazard mitigation revolving loan
program; federal funds SEG-FC -0- -0-
SECTION 2. 20.370 (9) (pq) of the statutes is created to read:
20.370 (9) (pq) Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program. As a
continuing appropriation, from the environmental fund, the amounts in the
schedule for the Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program under s.
23.199.
SECTION 3. 20.465 (3) (v) of the statutes is created to read:
20.465 (3) (v) Hazard mitigation revolving loan program; payments. From the
hazard mitigation revolving loan fund, all moneys received from the repayment of
principal and interest on loans made under s. 323.65, to provide loans under s.
323.65.
SECTION 4. 20.465 (3) (w) of the statutes is created to read:
20.465 (3) (w) Hazard mitigation revolving loan program; state funds. From
the hazard mitigation revolving loan fund, all moneys transferred from the general
fund under s. 323.65 (4), to provide loans under s. 323.65.
SECTION 5. 20.465 (3) (x) of the statutes is created to read:
20.465 (3) (x) Hazard mitigation revolving loan program; federal funds. From
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the hazard mitigation revolving loan fund, all moneys received from the federal
government under 42 USC 5135, to provide loans under s. 323.65.
SECTION 6. 23.199 of the statutes is created to read:
23.199 Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program. (1) The
department shall administer a revolving loan program to assist municipalities and
owners of homes located on the shore of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior where the
structural integrity of municipal buildings or homes is threatened by erosion of the
shoreline.
(2) The department shall make loans under this section from the
appropriation account under s. 20.370 (9) (pq).
(3) The department shall promulgate rules to administer this section,
including rules establishing eligibility criteria and income limitations for loans
under this section.
SECTION 7. 25.17 (1) (gg) of the statutes is created to read:
25.17 (1) (gg) Hazard mitigation revolving loan fund (s. 25.34);
SECTION 8. 25.34 of the statutes is created to read:
25.34 Hazard mitigation revolving loan fund. There is established a
separate nonlapsible trust fund, designated as the hazard mitigation revolving loan
fund, to consist of the following:
(1) All moneys transferred from the general fund under s. 323.65 (4) to the
hazard mitigation revolving loan fund.
(2) All moneys received from the federal government under 42 USC 5135,
designated for loans under the hazard mitigation revolving loan fund.
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(3) All repayments of principal and payments of interest on loans made under
s. 323.65 (3).
SECTION 9. 323.65 of the statutes is created to read:
323.65 Hazard mitigation revolving loan program. (1) AUTHORIZATION.
The division may enter into an agreement with the federal government as provided
in 42 USC 5135 to provide hazard mitigation loans to local units of government
under sub. (2).
(2) ESTABLISHMENT. If an agreement is entered into as provided under sub.
(1), the division shall establish and administer a hazard mitigation revolving loan
program under which the division provides loans to local units of government from
the appropriations under s. 20.465 (3) (v), (w), and (x) for the purpose of funding
hazard mitigation projects in accordance with the requirements of 42 USC 5135
and the agreement entered into under sub. (1).
(3) REPAYMENTS. All repayments of principal and interest on loans provided
under any program established under sub. (2) shall be credited to the appropriation
account under s. 20.465 (3) (v).
(4) GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS. Beginning on June 30, 2026, in each fiscal
year, the secretary of administration shall transfer from the general fund to the
hazard mitigation revolving loan fund an amount equal to 10 percent of any moneys
received in that fiscal year from the federal government pursuant to an agreement
under sub. (1).
SECTION 10. Nonstatutory provisions.
(1) POSITION AUTHORIZATION. The authorized FTE positions for the
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department of natural resources, funded from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (9)
(pq), are increased by 0.5 SEG position for the purpose of administering the Great
Lakes erosion control revolving loan program.
(2) EMERGENCY RULES. The department of natural resources may use the
procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules under s. 23.199 for the
period before the date on which permanent rules under s. 23.199 take effect.
Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this
subsection remain in effect until the first day of the 25th month beginning after the
effective date of the emergency rules, the date on which the permanent rules take
effect, or the effective date of the repeal of the emergency rules, whichever is earlier.
Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of natural resources is not
required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as
emergency rules is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or
welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated
under this subsection.
SECTION 11. Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after
publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
(END)
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