Transportation in Wisconsin

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 175: Relating to: requiring periodic inspections of parking structures.

AB 175 requires owners of parking structures to hire a licensed engineer for a structural safety inspection at least once every five years, starting from the bill's effective date. Owners must submit inspection reports to their local government agency (like a city or county) and face penalties for missing deadlines, including $200 per month in fines and potential closure after 12 months. The law directly affects all parking structure owners statewide, ensuring ongoing safety checks to prevent structural failures. It does not apply to inspections already required under other existing statutes. Violations trigger mandatory reporting to state authorities and may lead to temporary closure of un-inspected structures.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Bridges

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 463: Relating to: eligibility for an occupational license for individuals with four or more convictions of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

AB 463 would change the rules for people with four or more convictions for driving under the influence (DWI). If passed, it would permanently revoke driving privileges for these individuals instead of allowing a temporary work-related license after 180 days (previously available after 45 days for three convictions). The bill amends statutes to remove eligibility for occupational licenses after 180 days of revocation for those with four or more DWI convictions, while requiring ignition interlock devices for any licensed driving. This applies specifically to individuals with multiple DWI convictions, not to first-time offenders or other traffic violations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 143: Relating to: allowing an unlicensed person to use a motor vehicle and providing a penalty.

AB 143 modifies vehicle law to clarify that vehicle owners or renters can be held liable for allowing unlicensed drivers to operate a vehicle, regardless of whether they knew the driver lacked a license. It adds new provisions (343.45(2m) and 343.46(2m)) stating that authorization or rental rules apply without requiring knowledge of the operator's license status. Violations carry fines: up to $1,000 for a first offense and up to $10,000 for repeat offenses. The bill directly affects vehicle owners, renters, and businesses that rent vehicles, as they face penalties if unlicensed operators use their vehicles. It does not change licensing requirements for drivers but shifts liability to those who permit unlicensed operation.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 345: Relating to: requiring vehicles to stop for pedestrians at certain intersections and crosswalks.

SB 345 requires drivers to stop for pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter riders, and personal delivery devices (like delivery robots) who have begun crossing at intersections with traffic signals or crosswalks. It clarifies that vehicles must remain stopped until these road users complete crossing, applying to both marked and unmarked crosswalks. The bill specifically amends traffic statutes to include new mobility devices and reinforces existing rules about yielding at signalized intersections. This directly affects drivers operating vehicles at intersections and crosswalks, particularly during green pedestrian signals.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Pedestrian Safety Roads & Highways

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 83: Relating to: governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device.

AB 83 prohibits state and local governments from restricting the sale or use of motor vehicles based on their energy source (e.g., gasoline, electric, or hydrogen). It also extends this rule to other energy-powered devices, such as power tools or generators, if their significant functions rely on that energy source. The law explicitly allows government agencies to prioritize electric vehicles for their own fleets when purchasing. This ensures public policies do not discriminate against specific vehicle or device types based on energy use.

Topics ✓ Energy ✗ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 433: Relating to: local traffic calming grants and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 433 creates a new $60 million annual grant program for local governments to fund traffic calming infrastructure projects. It directly affects counties, cities, villages, towns, and federally recognized tribes by providing funding for projects designed to slow vehicle speeds, such as speed bumps or road redesigns. Projects must align with the federal transportation alternatives program and be administered by the state Department of Transportation. The bill establishes a formal grant process with application requirements and evaluation criteria, but does not change existing traffic laws or require local matching funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Bicycle Infrastructure Pedestrian Safety Traffic Safety

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 82: Relating to: governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device.

SB 82 prohibits state and local governments from restricting the use or sale of motor vehicles based on their energy source (like gasoline, electric, or hydrogen power). It also bans similar restrictions on other devices that rely on specific energy sources for key functions. The law applies broadly to all government agencies and units, preventing them from enacting policies that target vehicles or devices solely by their power source. The only exception allows governments to maintain their own vehicle purchase policies for their own fleets.

Topics ✓ Energy ✗ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 660: Relating to: a public information campaign related to aggressive driving and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 660 creates a statewide public information campaign to reduce aggressive driving behaviors like excessive speeding, illegal racing, and fleeing police. The campaign, funded with $500,000 over two fiscal years, must run for 1-2 years and prioritize local governments with the highest rates of these incidents. It requires using billboards, radio, TV, and digital ads, while partnering with local creative agencies and community groups (like schools and churches) to share real stories from affected drivers and families. The law mandates that materials reflect the experiences of high-risk drivers and target communities most impacted by aggressive driving.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Appropriations Traffic Safety

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 659: Relating to: installation of a speed limiter for repeated reckless driving violations, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 659 requires courts to order drivers convicted of two or more serious speeding violations (exceeding speed limits by 20+ mph) within five years to install a speed limiter on all their vehicles. The speed limiter is an aftermarket device that prevents vehicles from exceeding a set speed, and courts must order this for "Class D" vehicles (typically passenger cars). Drivers with household incomes below 150% of the poverty line may have costs reduced by half, and failure to install or tampering with the device is a punishable offense. The bill establishes a state program to manage speed limiter providers and fees, using existing infrastructure from ignition interlock programs. It directly affects repeat reckless drivers, not the general public.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 562: Relating to: marking the Mississippi River Trail. (FE)

AB 562 requires the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) to erect signs marking the Mississippi River Trail after municipalities along the route approve the trail's path. Once municipalities adopt resolutions supporting the trail, the DOT must notify the legislative bureau and erect signs within 18 months. The bill allows the DOT to request supplemental funding from the finance committee without needing to declare an emergency. This procedural bill directly affects local governments (through approval requirements) and the DOT (through signage implementation), focusing solely on physical trail signage.

Topics ✓ Transportation

All transportation bills