summary
Introduced
03/27/2025
03/27/2025
In Committee
05/27/2025
05/27/2025
Crossed Over
05/15/2025
05/15/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill makes a change, retroactive to January 1, 2025, to eligibility for a county forest administration grant. Current law authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to make grants to counties that have lands designated as county forest to fund 50 percent of the salary and fringe benefits of a professional forester in the position of county forest administrator or assistant county forest administrator (county forest administration grant program). Under the bill, the grants may be used to fund 50 percent of the salary and fringe benefits of a county forest administrator. The bill defines Xcounty forest administratorY as a person, excluding a person employed by the department, who is employed to manage a county forest program and who has any of the following qualifications: 1. A bachelor[s or higher degree in forestry from a school of forestry with a curriculum accredited by the Society of American Foresters or an equivalent degree, as determined by the chief state forester. 2. A bachelor[s or higher degree in natural resources, conservation, or wildlife and three or more years of experience managing a county forest program. LRB-2139/1 EHS:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 158 3. An associate degree in forestry and three or more years of experience managing a county forest program.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the county forest administration grant program administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, narrowing the eligibility for grants to fund county forest administrators. The bill redefines a "county forest administrator" as a professional who manages a county forest program and must possess one of three specific qualifications: a bachelor's degree in forestry from an accredited school, a bachelor's degree in natural resources/conservation/wildlife with at least three years of county forest program management experience, or an associate degree in forestry with at least three years of county forest program management experience. Importantly, the definition explicitly excludes individuals employed by the department itself. The bill adjusts the grant provisions to provide funding for up to 50% of a single county forest administrator's salary and fringe benefits (capped at 40% of the salary), whereas previous language allowed funding for both a county forest administrator and an assistant. The changes will apply to grant applications submitted on or after the bill's effective date and are retroactively implemented to January 1, 2025, potentially helping counties more precisely fund their forest management leadership positions.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (23)
Jesse James (R)*,
Howard Marklein (R)*,
Romaine Quinn (R)*,
Rob Stafsholt (R)*,
Cory Tomczyk (R)*,
David Armstrong (R),
Elijah Behnke (R),
Calvin Callahan (R),
Chanz Green (R),
Andrew Hysell (D),
Brent Jacobson (R),
Scott Krug (R),
Vincent Miresse (D),
Jeff Mursau (R),
Lori Palmeri (D),
Jim Piwowarczyk (R),
Angela Stroud (D),
Rob Summerfield (R),
Rob Swearingen (R),
Paul Tittl (R),
Duke Tucker (R),
Nancy VanderMeer (R),
Chuck Wichgers (R),
Last Action
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules (on 05/27/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb158 |
| SB158 ROCP for Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry On 5/9/2025 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/insurance_housing_rural_issues_and_forestry/1918102.pdf |
| Senate Amendment 1 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/SB158-SA1.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB158.pdf |
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