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Bill > SB181
WI SB181
A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE)
summary
Introduced
04/14/2025
04/14/2025
In Committee
04/14/2025
04/14/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Generally, under current law, local levy limits are applied to the property tax levies that are imposed by political subdivisions. A political subdivision may not increase its levy by a percentage that exceeds its Xvaluation factor,Y which is the greater of 0 percent or the percentage change in the political subdivision[s equalized value due to new construction, less improvements removed. Current law also contains a number of exceptions to the levy limit, such as amounts a county levies for a countywide emergency medical system, for a county children with disabilities education board, and for certain bridge and culvert construction and repair. This bill creates an additional exception to local levy limits. Under the bill, the amounts a city, village, town, or county levies for costs associated with regional emergency medical services, either through participation in a joint emergency services district or through one or more intergovernmental agreements to provide emergency medical services, or both, are exempt. Under the bill, XregionalY means consisting of a service area that is at least 232 square miles or includes at least eight municipalities. The bill also excludes expenditures of amounts levied for a regional emergency medical system that are exempt from local levy limits under the bill from being LRB-2497/1 KP:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 181 considered in determining eligibility for an expenditure restraint incentive program payment. Under current law, a municipality is eligible to receive an expenditure restraint incentive program payment if its property tax levy is greater than 5 mills and if the annual increase in its municipal budget, subject to certain exceptions, is less than the sum of factors based on inflation and the increased value of property in the municipality as a result of new construction. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill creates a new exemption to local property tax levy limits for regional emergency medical services. Specifically, political subdivisions (like cities, villages, towns, or counties) can now levy additional funds for emergency medical services without being constrained by standard levy limit rules, provided certain conditions are met. The bill defines "regional" as a service area covering at least 232 square miles or including at least eight municipalities. To qualify for the exemption, the emergency medical services levy must not increase by more than the U.S. Consumer Price Index plus 5 percent year-over-year, and the entity must confirm it has a true regional service area with a designated coordination entity. The bill also modifies the expenditure restraint incentive program to exclude these regional emergency medical services levies when calculating municipal budget increases. This means local governments can invest more in collaborative, region-wide emergency medical services without being penalized under existing tax and budget limitation frameworks. The new levy limit exemption will first apply to levies imposed in December following the bill's effective date, providing flexibility for local governments to develop and fund regional emergency medical service strategies.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (29)
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)*,
Jesse James (R)*,
Howard Marklein (R)*,
Steve Nass (R)*,
Brad Pfaff (D)*,
Mark Spreitzer (D)*,
Patrick Testin (R)*,
Elijah Behnke (R),
Barbara Dittrich (R),
Robert Donovan (R),
Cindi Duchow (R),
Benjamin Franklin (R),
Chanz Green (R),
Nate Gustafson (R),
Dean Kaufert (R),
Joel Kitchens (R),
Anthony Kurtz (R),
Dave Maxey (R),
Paul Melotik (R),
Clint Moses (R),
Jeff Mursau (R),
Amanda Nedweski (R),
Greta Neubauer (D),
Lori Palmeri (D),
Jim Piwowarczyk (R),
David Steffen (R),
Lisa Subeck (D),
Randy Udell (D),
Nancy VanderMeer (R),
Last Action
Representative Joers added as a cosponsor (on 07/03/2025)
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/sb181 |
Fiscal Note - SB181: Fiscal Estimate From DOR | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/sb181/sb181_dor.pdf |
SB181 ROCP for Committee on Health | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/health/1915382.pdf |
BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB181.pdf |
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