Relating to: county forest administration grant eligibility.
SB 158 updates Wisconsin's rules for county forest administration grants by setting new qualifications for the county forest administrator position. It requires applicants to have either a forestry degree from an accredited program, a related degree with 3+ years managing county forests, or an associate forestry degree with 3+ years of experience. The bill allows counties to use grants covering up to 50% of the administrator's salary and 40% of their benefits (capped at 40% of salary). This applies to all grant applications submitted on or after January 1, 2025, directly affecting counties seeking funding for forest management programs.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Assembly Passage
Oct 2025
Signed into Law
Dec 2025
Introduced Mar 27, 2025
Signed Dec 10, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
4
Committee
1
Dec 10, 2025
Signed into law
Report approved by the Governor on 12-9-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 65
upper
Oct 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in
lower
May 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and passed
upper
May 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Senators Quinn, Stafsholt, James, Marklein and Tomczyk;
cosponsored by Representatives Green, Armstrong, Behnke, Callahan, Hysell, B. Jacobson, Krug, Miresse, Mursau, Palmeri, Piwowarczyk, Stroud, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tittl, Tucker, VanderMeer and Wichgers
upper
5 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Cory Tomczyk
RRepublican
P
Howard Marklein
RRepublican
P
Jesse James
RRepublican
P
Rob Stafsholt
RRepublican
P
Romaine Quinn
RRepublican
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