Why It Matters: As you may remember from Schoolhouse Rock, a bill’s journey is not complete after it has been approved by the Legislative Branch – the Executive Branch (the Governor at the state level) must either sign or veto it. Recently, the Wisconsin Governor elected to sign a few sporting bills into law while vetoing others. To stay informed on what changes may impact upcoming hunts and fishing trips, it is important for sportsmen and women to know the legislation that made it across the finish line, and what didn’t.
Highlights:
- In March, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers took action on dozens of bills that the state legislature had presented to him following a lengthy legislative process.
- A few of the bills relevant to sportsmen and women and whether they were signed or vetoed is highlighted below.
- In Wisconsin, vetoes may be overridden by a supermajority, or two-thirds of the legislature, overturning the Governor’s decision.
- For the vetoed bills, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) will continue to engage with state legislators in an effort to achieve the legislative outcomes that best serve the interests of hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers.
With many Wisconsin state legislators turning their attention to the upcoming the 2024 election, Governor Tony Evers took executive action on the bills that the legislature worked on this session. Below is a status update on a few of the bills relevant to sportsmen and women in the Badger State that made it through the legislature and onto the Governor’s desk.
Signed
- Senate Bill 586 allows for airguns to be used during big-game hunting seasons. While CSF recognizes their value and supports their expanded use, airguns and airbows are the only methods of take that do not contribute to the American System of Conservation Funding through manufacturer-paid excise taxes levied through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Management (Pittman-Robertson) Act of 1937. Throughout the bill’s legislative process, CSF advocated that a one-time stamp be required to hunt with an airgun in Wisconsin; however, this language was not included in the final version of the bill. During future budget negotiations, CSF will continue to encourage the adoption of such a stamp so that the use of airguns to hunt in Wisconsin contributes to conservation efforts in a manner consistent with all other methods of take.
- Senate Bill 587 redefines “muzzleloader” within the state to include modern iterations of the classic firearm. Allowing Wisconsin hunters to use firearms such as the Federal FireStick expands hunting accessibility and safety while honoring the state’s longstanding outdoor traditions. CSF supported this legislation from its introduction and helped to get it through both chambers and was present as the Governor signed it into law.
Vetoed
- Senate Bill 139 would require the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish a statewide population goal in its Wolf Management Plan. Introduced by Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Rob Stafsholt, the bill preserves the DNR’s authority to follow scientific data in determining management practices but requires that the DNR work towards achieving a specific numeric outcome. CSF supported the bill and advised the DNR to adopt a numeric population goal when its draft Wolf Management Plan was released in early 2023.
- Senate Bill 466, also introduced by Senator Stafsholt and supported by CSF, would prohibit financial institutions from tracking the sale of firearms by applying a specific merchant category code to differentiate firearm retailers from general sporting good retailers, while further prohibiting the government from maintaining a list of firearm owners in the State. Privacy is paramount to sportsmen and women who may face harassment from anti-hunter extremists for purchasing firearms and ammunition while enjoying our time-honored outdoor pursuits.
- Assembly Bill 1030 would prohibit hunters from taking antlerless deer in a large portion of northern Wisconsin, impacting twenty counties. CSF opposed the legislation, recognizing that although concerns over shrinking deer herd size in Wisconsin are valid, the decision-making authority on how to address the problem is best left to the DNR which is equipped with professional staff that possesses the experience, expertise, and data necessary to make informed decisions surrounding deer harvest.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is committed to promoting policies that benefit hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers, and will continue to do so as the Wisconsin legislature looks to potentially override the vetoes detailed above.
