Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB112 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-0815/1
3	3	ZDW:skw
4	4	2025 SENATE BILL 112
5	5	March 7, 2025 - Introduced by JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Referred to Committee
6	6	on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage.
7	7	AN ACT to renumber 29.179 (5); to amend 20.370 (5) (fq), 29.179 (4), 29.563
8	8	(13) (a), 29.563 (13) (b), 29.563 (14) (c) 3., 29.563 (14) (c) 4., 29.889 (1) (e),
9	9	29.938 (intro.), 29.977 (1) (b) and 29.983 (1) (b) 2.; to create 20.115 (7) (ac),
10	10	20.370 (1) (hy), 29.165, 29.179 (1) (a) 12., 29.179 (5) (b), 29.180 (1) (a) 8m.,
11	11	29.180 (4m), 29.183 (1) (hm), 29.183 (6), 29.553 (1) (gm), 29.563 (2) (c) 3.,
12	12	29.563 (2) (d) 3., 29.563 (13) (am), 29.563 (14) (a) 4., 29.596 and 93.67 of the
13	13	statutes; relating to: hunting of sandhill cranes, programs related to sandhill
14	14	crane damage, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures,
15	15	granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
16	16	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
17	17	This bill is explained in the NOTES provided by the Joint Legislative Council in
18	18	the bill.
19	19	For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
20	20	printed as an appendix to this bill.
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30	30	SENATE BILL 112
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33	33	JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PREFATORY NOTE: This bill was prepared for the
34	34	Joint Legislative Council Study Committee on Sandhill Cranes to: (1) assist
35	35	agricultural producers in preventing damage to corn crops from sandhill cranes; (2)
36	36	authorize the hunting of sandhill cranes; and (3) increase hunting surcharges that
37	37	support payments to agricultural producers for crop damage caused by wild animals.
38	38	Abatement assistance for corn producers
39	39	The bill directs the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
40	40	(DATCP) to administer a program to provide reimbursements to eligible applicants for
41	41	the purchase of seed treatment that is registered for use on corn seed to discourage
42	42	sandhill cranes from consuming the seed. An eligible applicant under the program is a
43	43	person who plants corn on land that is operated as part of a farm that produced at least
44	44	$6,000 in gross farm revenue during the taxable year preceding the year in which a
45	45	person applies for a reimbursement.
46	46	The bill provides for reimbursements of up to 50 percent of the actual cost of the
47	47	purchase of seed treatment, and a reimbursement may not exceed $6,250 per eligible
48	48	applicant per planting season. Each farm may only receive one reimbursement payment
49	49	per year, and a XfarmY, under the bill, consists of all land under common ownership that
50	50	is primarily devoted to agricultural use.
51	51	The bill provides for an application window from March 1 to June 15 of each year,
52	52	during which eligible applicants may apply for reimbursement for seed treatments
53	53	purchased no earlier than November 1 of the prior year. To be eligible for
54	54	reimbursement, applicants must provide DATCP with proof of purchase and an
55	55	application on a form provided by DATCP. The department must make all
56	56	reimbursement payments no later than September 15 following the application window.
57	57	The bill directs DATCP to prioritize reimbursement payments based upon an
58	58	applicant[s receipt of a federal depredation permit for sandhill crane in the previous
59	59	year; an applicant[s receipt of reimbursement under the bill[s program in any of the
60	60	prior three years, or documentation of purchase of seed coating in any of the prior three
61	61	years; and the vulnerability of an applicant[s land to sandhill crane depredation, as
62	62	determined by DATCP in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources and
63	63	applicable conservation organizations. After reimbursing applicants that meet these
64	64	criteria, DATCP must make reimbursement payments on a first-come, first-served
65	65	basis to other eligible applicants that have experienced, or are likely to experience, seed
66	66	or crop damage from sandhill cranes.
67	67	Under the bill, DATCP must compile and submit an annual report to the
68	68	appropriate standing committees of the Legislature. The report must detail the number
69	69	of reimbursements requested and the total dollar amount of these requests. Similarly,
70	70	the report must detail the number of reimbursements issued and the total dollar
71	71	amount of these reimbursements. This report must be provided no later than December
72	72	31 each year.
73	73	The bill grants rule-making authority to DATCP to promulgate administrative
74	74	rules, including emergency rules, to implement provisions regarding the prioritization
75	75	and eligibility of applicants under the program.
76	76	The bill creates a continuing appropriation of general purpose revenue to support
77	77	the program. This appropriation consists of $1,875,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 and
78	78	$1,875,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 for reimbursements, and $85,000 in each of those
79	79	fiscal years for administrative expenses. The bill also authorizes the creation of one
80	80	DATCP position to administer the program.
81	81	The program takes effect on the first day of the 4th month beginning after
82	82	publication, or the 2nd day after publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever
83	83	is later.
84	84	Sandhill crane hunting
85	85	Like many other migratory birds, sandhill cranes are protected by international
86	86	treaty and federal law. Consistent with those protections, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
87	87	Service (USFWS) may authorize a state to initiate a sandhill crane hunting season. 2025 - 2026 Legislature
88	88	SENATE BILL 112
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91	91	The bill directs the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), upon approval by
92	92	USFWS, to authorize sandhill crane hunting in Wisconsin. The bill requires that DNR
93	93	use permits to control the number of hunters and the number of cranes that may be
94	94	harvested. The bill authorizes DNR to establish closed zones or other restrictions to
95	95	minimize the inadvertent taking of other bird species, including whooping cranes.
96	96	Testimony before the committee indicated that only some sandhill cranes are
97	97	members of breeding pairs, and that harvest of a breeding crane has a greater impact
98	98	on overall species population than harvest of a nonbreeding crane. The bill directs DNR
99	99	to establish restrictions to minimize the likelihood that breeding sandhill cranes are
100	100	disproportionately hunted.
101	101	The bill requires that DNR conduct a free sandhill crane hunter education
102	102	program. A person must complete the program and pass a test before hunting sandhill
103	103	cranes. The program must include specified information about sandhill cranes, such as
104	104	how to distinguish them from other birds, and specified information about applicable
105	105	hunting zones and regulations. The results of the test are valid for one year.
106	106	If demand for sandhill crane hunting permits exceeds supply, the bill requires
107	107	DNR to issue permits according to a cumulative preference system. For any given
108	108	season, a person may apply for either a permit or for a preference point. A person who
109	109	applies unsuccessfully for a permit is awarded instead a preference point. A person may
110	110	accumulate and transfer preference points to certain other persons in the same manner
111	111	as the cumulative preference systems used for other species. A person may transfer a
112	112	permit to certain other persons in the same manner as approvals for other species, to
113	113	the extent allowable by federal law.
114	114	The bill sets the cost of a sandhill crane hunting permit at $20 for a resident and
115	115	$100 for a nonresident. The bill also requires a processing fee of $4.25 and an issuing fee
116	116	of $0.25 for each application for a permit or for a preference point.
117	117	The bill deposits with DNR the revenue raised by the sale of a permit and by the
118	118	processing fee, to be used by DNR as follows: half for the Wildlife Damage Abatement
119	119	and Claims Program (WDACP), described below, and half for developing, managing,
120	120	preserving, restoring, and maintaining the sandhill crane population and for the
121	121	sandhill crane hunter education program.
122	122	Crop damage caused by wild animals
123	123	WDACP provides financial assistance for wildlife damage abatement measures and
124	124	makes payments to agricultural producers for claims regarding damage to agricultural
125	125	crops by certain wildlife. The program is funded in large measure by a wildlife damage
126	126	surcharge on most hunting approvals. Under current law, the surcharge is $2 for a
127	127	resident or nonresident approval, and $4 for a resident or nonresident conservation
128	128	patron license. A conservation patron license consists of a bundle of individual
129	129	approvals and authorizations, such as a small game hunting license, a trapping license,
130	130	and an annual fishing license.
131	131	Under current law, damage caused by a sandhill crane becomes eligible under
132	132	WDACP if hunting of those cranes is authorized by DNR.
133	133	The bill raises the wildlife damage surcharge to the following amounts: $3 for a
134	134	resident approval; $4 for a nonresident approval; $6 for a resident conservation patron
135	135	license; and $8 for a nonresident conservation patron license. However, the bill renders
136	136	these increases contingent on USFWS approving a sandhill crane hunting season in
137	137	Wisconsin.
138	138	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
139	139	enact as follows: 2025 - 2026 Legislature
140	140	SENATE BILL 112
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143	143	SECTION 1
144	144	SECTION 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place,
145	145	insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
146	146	2025-26 2026-27
147	147	20.115 Agriculture, trade and consumer
148	148	protection, department of
149	149	(7) AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
150	150	(ac) Sandhill crane damage
151	151	reimbursements GPR C 1,875,0001,875,000
152	152	SECTION 2. 20.115 (7) (ac) of the statutes is created to read:
153	153	20.115 (7) (ac) Sandhill crane damage reimbursements. As a continuing
154	154	appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the sandhill crane damage
155	155	reimbursement program under s. 93.67.
156	156	SECTION 3. 20.370 (1) (hy) of the statutes is created to read:
157	157	20.370 (1) (hy) Sandhill crane management. Fifty percent of all moneys
158	158	received from the sale of sandhill crane hunting permits under s. 29.165 and the
159	159	associated processing fee collected under s. 29.563 (14) (a) 4. for developing,
160	160	managing, preserving, restoring, and maintaining the sandhill crane population
161	161	and for the sandhill crane hunter education program under s. 29.596.
162	162	SECTION 4. 20.370 (5) (fq) of the statutes is amended to read:
163	163	20.370 (5) (fq) Wildlife damage claims and abatement. All moneys received
164	164	under ss. 29.181, 29.559 (1r), and 29.563 (13) and not appropriated under par. (fr)
165	165	and subs. (1) (hs), (hx), and (Ls) and (5) (fs) and 50 percent of all moneys received
166	166	from the sale of sandhill crane hunting permits under s. 29.165 and the associated
167	167	processing fee collected under s. 29.563 (14) (a) 4. to provide state aid for the wildlife
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195	195	SECTION 4
196	196	damage abatement program under s. 29.889 (5) (c) and the wildlife damage claim
197	197	program under s. 29.889 (7) (d), for county administration costs under s. 29.889 (2)
198	198	(d), and for payments under s. 29.89.
199	199	SECTION 5. 29.165 of the statutes is created to read:
200	200	29.165 Sandhill crane hunting permits. (1) AUTHORIZATION;
201	201	RESTRICTIONS. (a) Department authority. The department shall authorize the
202	202	hunting of sandhill cranes in this state, subsequent to approval by the U.S. fish and
203	203	wildlife service, and shall issue sandhill crane hunting permits to limit the number
204	204	of hunters of sandhill cranes and the number of sandhill cranes harvested in any
205	205	area of the state. The sandhill crane hunting permit issued by the department
206	206	shall include any restrictions necessary to comply with federal laws and
207	207	regulations. The department shall establish by rule one sandhill crane hunting
208	208	season and may establish by rule closed zones where the hunting of sandhill cranes
209	209	is prohibited. The department may temporarily close a sandhill crane hunting
210	210	season during festivals or ecotourism events related to sandhill cranes. The
211	211	department shall establish restrictions on sandhill crane hunting permits to
212	212	minimize the inadvertent taking of other bird species, to minimize the likelihood
213	213	that breeding sandhill cranes are disproportionately hunted, and to minimize any
214	214	potential impact to whooping cranes.
215	215	(b) Requirements. No person may hunt sandhill cranes unless he or she has a
216	216	valid small game license, or other license that authorizes the hunting of small
217	217	game, and a valid sandhill crane hunting permit.
218	218	(2) ISSUANCE OF PERMITS. (a) Procedure; preference system. If the
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245	245	SECTION 5
246	246	department issues sandhill crane hunting permits under sub. (1) (a), the
247	247	department shall determine the number of permits it will issue for a given sandhill
248	248	crane hunting area and for a given sandhill crane hunting season. If the number of
249	249	applications for sandhill crane hunting permits for a given hunting area or season
250	250	does not exceed the number of available sandhill crane hunting permits allocated by
251	251	the department for that hunting area or that season, the department shall issue a
252	252	sandhill crane hunting permit to each applicant who pays the applicable fee. If the
253	253	number of applications for sandhill crane hunting permits for a given hunting area
254	254	or season exceeds the number of available sandhill crane hunting permits allocated
255	255	by the department for that area or that season, the department shall issue permits
256	256	according to a cumulative preference system. The department shall establish
257	257	preference categories under the cumulative preference system for those applicants
258	258	who applied for but were not issued permits, with higher priority given to those
259	259	categories with more preference points than those with fewer preference points.
260	260	Under the system, the department shall allow each applicant to apply for a
261	261	preference point or for a permit for each sandhill crane hunting season. The
262	262	department shall give a preference point to each applicant who applies for a
263	263	preference point and to each applicant who applies for a permit but who is not
264	264	selected. If the number of applicants within a preference category exceeds the
265	265	number of permits available in the category, the department shall select at random
266	266	within the category the applicants to be issued the permits.
267	267	(b) Loss of preference points. Applicants who fail to apply for either a
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293	293	SECTION 5
294	294	preference point or a permit at least once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose
295	295	all previously accumulated preference points.
296	296	(c) Permit limitation. No person may apply for or receive more than one
297	297	sandhill crane hunting permit for one season.
298	298	(d) Notification; issuance; payment. The department shall issue a notice of
299	299	approval to those applicants selected to receive a sandhill crane hunting permit
300	300	under par. (a). A person who receives a notice of approval and who pays the
301	301	applicable fee in the manner required by the department shall be issued a sandhill
302	302	crane hunting permit.
303	303	(3) USE OF MONEYS FROM FEES. Of the fee amounts collected from the sale of
304	304	sandhill crane hunting permits, including processing of the permits, 50 percent
305	305	shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (1) (hy) and 50
306	306	percent shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (5) (fq).
307	307	SECTION 6. 29.179 (1) (a) 12. of the statutes is created to read:
308	308	29.179 (1) (a) 12. Sandhill crane hunting permit.
309	309	SECTION 7. 29.179 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
310	310	29.179 (4) RETENTION OF PREFERENCE POINTS. Notwithstanding ss. 29.164 (3)
311	311	(cr), 29.165 (2) (b), 29.177 (5) (b), 29.184 (6) (b), and 29.192 (4), a person who is
312	312	transferred an approval under this section shall retain all preference points that he
313	313	or she has previously accumulated for that type of approval.
314	314	SECTION 8. 29.179 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 29.179 (5) (a).
315	315	SECTION 9. 29.179 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
316	316	29.179 (5) (b) This section applies to sandhill crane hunting permits only to
317	317	the extent allowable under federal laws and regulations.
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345	345	SECTION 10
346	346	SECTION 10. 29.180 (1) (a) 8m. of the statutes is created to read:
347	347	29.180 (1) (a) 8m. Sandhill crane hunting permit.
348	348	SECTION 11. 29.180 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
349	349	29.180 (4m) This section applies to sandhill crane hunting permits only to the
350	350	extent allowable under federal laws and regulations.
351	351	SECTION 12. 29.183 (1) (hm) of the statutes is created to read:
352	352	29.183 (1) (hm) Sandhill crane hunting permit.
353	353	SECTION 13. 29.183 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
354	354	29.183 (6) This section applies to sandhill crane hunting permits only to the
355	355	extent allowable under federal laws and regulations.
356	356	SECTION 14. 29.553 (1) (gm) of the statutes is created to read:
357	357	29.553 (1) (gm) Sandhill crane hunting permit.
358	358	SECTION 15. 29.563 (2) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
359	359	29.563 (2) (c) 3. Sandhill crane: $20.
360	360	SECTION 16. 29.563 (2) (d) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
361	361	29.563 (2) (d) 3. Sandhill crane: $100.
362	362	SECTION 17. 29.563 (13) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
363	363	29.563 (13) (a) Surcharge generally. The surcharge for resident approvals
364	364	listed under subs. (2) (a) 1., 2. and 4. to 9. and (b) 1. to 8. and (4) (a) 1. and 1m. and
365	365	(b) 1. and 1m. is $2 $3 and shall be added to the fee specified for these approvals
366	366	under subs. (2) and (4). The surcharge for nonresident approvals listed under subs.
367	367	(2) (b) 1. to 8. and (4) (b) 1. and 1m. is $4 and shall be added to the fee specified for
368	368	these approvals under subs. (2) and (4).
369	369	SECTION 18. 29.563 (13) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
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397	397	SECTION 18
398	398	29.563 (13) (am) Surcharge for sandhill crane permit. The surcharge for a
399	399	resident sandhill crane hunting permit shall be $3 and the surcharge for a
400	400	nonresident sandhill crane hunting permit shall be $4. This surcharge shall be
401	401	paid together with the processing fee specified in sub. (14) (a) 4.
402	402	SECTION 19. 29.563 (13) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
403	403	29.563 (13) (b) Surcharge for conservation patron license. The surcharge for
404	404	resident licenses listed under sub. (4) (a) 2. and 2m. and (b) 2. and 2m. is $4 $6 and
405	405	shall be added to the fee specified for these approvals under sub. (4). The surcharge
406	406	for nonresident licenses listed under sub. (4) (b) 2. and 2m. is $8 and shall be added
407	407	to the fee specified for these approvals under sub. (4).
408	408	SECTION 20. 29.563 (14) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
409	409	29.563 (14) (a) 4. The processing fee for applications for sandhill crane
410	410	hunting permits: $4.25.
411	411	SECTION 21. 29.563 (14) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
412	412	29.563 (14) (c) 3. Each application for a hunter[s choice permit, bonus deer
413	413	hunting permit, elk hunting license, wild turkey hunting license, Class A bear
414	414	license, wolf harvesting license, Canada goose hunting permit, sandhill crane
415	415	hunting permit, sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit, bobcat hunting and trapping
416	416	permit, otter trapping permit, fisher trapping permit, or sturgeon fishing permit:
417	417	25 cents.
418	418	SECTION 22. 29.563 (14) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
419	419	29.563 (14) (c) 4. Each bonus deer hunting permit issued for which a fee is
420	420	charged under sub. (2) (c) 1. or 1m. or (d) 1. or 2.: 75 cents.
421	421	SECTION 23. 29.596 of the statutes is created to read:
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449	449	SECTION 23
450	450	29.596 Sandhill crane hunter education program. (1) The department
451	451	shall establish and conduct a sandhill crane hunter education program. The
452	452	program shall provide a course of instruction that includes all of the following:
453	453	(a) History and recovery of the sandhill crane in this state and in the eastern
454	454	United States.
455	455	(b) Methods used to distinguish sandhill cranes from other birds.
456	456	(c) Methods used to estimate the population of sandhill cranes in the state.
457	457	(d) Areas covered by sandhill crane hunting zones.
458	458	(e) Any rules promulgated by the department concerning the hunting of
459	459	sandhill cranes.
460	460	(2) The department shall offer a test for a person to demonstrate successful
461	461	completion of the course of instruction and shall issue a certificate of
462	462	accomplishment for free to a person who completes the course of instruction and
463	463	passes the test. A certificate of accomplishment issued under this subsection is
464	464	valid for one year. At least once each year, the department shall offer the test to any
465	465	person who has previously completed the course of instruction to allow the person
466	466	to renew their certificate of accomplishment for one year.
467	467	(3) No person may hunt sandhill cranes unless he or she has a current, valid
468	468	certificate of accomplishment issued under sub. (2).
469	469	(4) If the department maintains a system under which the department stores
470	470	information in an electronic format as described under s. 23.47 (2), the department
471	471	shall store information in that system relating to persons who have completed a
472	472	sandhill crane hunter education program, and any associated tests, that satisfies
473	473	the requirements of this section.
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497	497	24 2025 - 2026 Legislature
498	498	SENATE BILL 112
499	499	- 11 - LRB-0815/1
500	500	ZDW:skw
501	501	SECTION 23
502	502	(5) The department may not charge a fee for the course of instruction under
503	503	sub. (1) or the test under sub. (2).
504	504	SECTION 24. 29.889 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
505	505	29.889 (1) (e) Sandhill crane, if hunting of sandhill cranes is authorized by the
506	506	department subsequent to approval by the U.S. fish and wildlife service.
507	507	SECTION 25. 29.938 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
508	508	29.938 Use by the department of unclaimed, seized, or confiscated
509	509	property. (intro.) The department may receive, retain, and use for the hunter
510	510	education programs under ss. 29.591 and, 29.595, and 29.596, the trapper
511	511	education program under s. 29.597, or other educational hunting, fishing, trapping,
512	512	or conservation activities the department conducts any of the following property:
513	513	SECTION 26. 29.977 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
514	514	29.977 (1) (b) Any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill sandhill crane,
515	515	$262.50.
516	516	SECTION 27. 29.983 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
517	517	29.983 (1) (b) 2. For any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill sandhill
518	518	crane, $262.50.
519	519	SECTION 28. 93.67 of the statutes is created to read:
520	520	93.67 Sandhill crane damage reimbursement program. (1) In this
521	521	section:
522	522	(a) XEligible applicantY means a person that plants corn on land that is
523	523	operated as part of a farm that produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenues
524	524	during the taxable year preceding the year in which the person applies for
525	525	reimbursement under this section.
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549	549	24 2025 - 2026 Legislature
550	550	SENATE BILL 112
551	551	- 12 - LRB-0815/1
552	552	ZDW:skw
553	553	SECTION 28
554	554	(b) XFarmY means all land under common ownership that is primarily devoted
555	555	to agricultural use.
556	556	(c) XSeed coatingY means a nonlethal treatment registered for use on corn seed
557	557	to discourage sandhill cranes from consuming the seed.
558	558	(2) (a) The department shall administer a program to provide
559	559	reimbursements to eligible applicants for the purchase of seed coating that is
560	560	applied as a seed treatment.
561	561	(b) A reimbursement under this section shall cover not more than 50 percent
562	562	of the actual cost of the purchase of seed coating that is applied as a seed treatment
563	563	and may not exceed $6,250 per eligible applicant per planting season.
564	564	(c) From March 1 to June 15 of each year, eligible applicants may apply to the
565	565	department for reimbursement for seed coating purchased no earlier than
566	566	November 1 of the prior year. Eligible applicants shall provide to the department
567	567	proof of purchase and an application on a form provided by the department to be
568	568	eligible to receive a reimbursement under this section.
569	569	(d) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall
570	570	prioritize reimbursement payments under par. (c) to all of the following:
571	571	1. Eligible applicants that received a federal depredation permit for sandhill
572	572	crane in the previous year.
573	573	2. Eligible applicants that received reimbursement under this section in any
574	574	of the prior 3 years or that can provide documentation of purchase of seed coating in
575	575	any of the prior 3 years.
576	576	3. Eligible applicants planting corn on land vulnerable to sandhill crane
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599	599	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
600	600	SENATE BILL 112
601	601	- 13 - LRB-0815/1
602	602	ZDW:skw
603	603	SECTION 28
604	604	depredation as determined by the department in consultation with the department
605	605	of natural resources and applicable conservation organizations.
606	606	(e) After reimbursing all eligible applicants under par. (d), from the
607	607	appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall make reimbursement
608	608	payments to other eligible applicants that have experienced or are likely to
609	609	experience seed or crop damage from sandhill cranes. The department shall make
610	610	payments under this paragraph to eligible applicants in the order in which
611	611	applications are received by the department.
612	612	(f) The department shall make all reimbursement payments under pars. (d)
613	613	and (e) no later than September 15 of the year in which applications are made
614	614	under par. (c).
615	615	(g) A farm is eligible to receive only one reimbursement payment per year
616	616	under this section.
617	617	(3) The department shall compile an annual report detailing the number of
618	618	reimbursements requested, the total dollar amount requested as reimbursement,
619	619	the number of reimbursements issued, and the total dollar amount disbursed as
620	620	reimbursement under this section. The department shall submit the report to the
621	621	appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided in s.
622	622	13.172 (3) no later than December 31 each year.
623	623	(4) The department may promulgate rules to establish prioritization of
624	624	payments under sub. (2) (d) and (e), including identifying applicable conservation
625	625	organizations under sub. (2) (d) 3. and determining whether eligible applicants
626	626	have experienced or are likely to experience seed or crop damage under sub. (2) (e).
627	627	SECTION 29. Nonstatutory provisions.
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651	651	24 2025 - 2026 Legislature
652	652	SENATE BILL 112
653	653	- 14 - LRB-0815/1
654	654	ZDW:skw
655	655	SECTION 29
656	656	(1) FEDERAL APPROVAL OF SANDHILL CRANE HUNTING. When the department
657	657	of natural resources receives approval from the U.S. fish and wildlife service to
658	658	authorize the hunting of sandhill cranes in this state, the department shall notify
659	659	the legislative reference bureau. The legislative reference bureau shall publish a
660	660	notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register that specifies that date.
661	661	(2) EMERGENCY RULES. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer
662	662	protection may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules
663	663	under s. 93.67 (4) for the period before the date on which permanent rules under s.
664	664	93.67 (4) take effect. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules
665	665	promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until the first day of the 25th
666	666	month beginning after the effective date of the emergency rules, the date on which
667	667	the permanent rules take effect, or the effective date of the repeal of the emergency
668	668	rules, whichever is earlier. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the
669	669	department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection is not required to provide
670	670	evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is
671	671	necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not
672	672	required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this
673	673	subsection.
674	674	SECTION 30. Fiscal changes.
675	675	(1) In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department
676	676	of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (7) (a), the dollar
677	677	amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $85,000 and the dollar amount for
678	678	fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $85,000 to increase the authorized FTE positions
679	679	for the department by 1.0 GPR position to administer the sandhill crane damage
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703	703	24 2025 - 2026 Legislature
704	704	SENATE BILL 112
705	705	- 15 - LRB-0815/1
706	706	ZDW:skw
707	707	SECTION 30
708	708	reimbursement program under s. 93.67 and for administrative costs related to the
709	709	program.
710	710	SECTION 31. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after
711	711	publication, except as follows:
712	712	(1) The treatment of s. 29.563 (13) (a) and (b) takes effect on the date specified
713	713	in the notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under SECTION 29
714	714	(1) of this act.
715	715	(2) The treatment of ss. 20.005 (3), 20.115 (7) (ac), and 93.67 takes effect on
716	716	the first day of the 4th month beginning after publication, or on the 2nd day after
717	717	publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
718	718	(END)
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