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WI AB439

WI AB439
Eligibility of a highway for an agricultural roads improvement program grant. (FE)


summary

Introduced
09/19/2025
In Committee
11/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under current law, the Department of Transportation administers an agricultural roads improvement program (ARIP) under which DOT provides grants to political subdivisions for projects to improve certain highway facilities that facilitate access to agricultural lands. Among the current eligibility criteria for projects under this program is a requirement that the highway have a demonstrated level of insufficiency for agricultural traffic. Currently, this may be demonstrated either by the highway having been designated as a class XBY highway due to structural deficiencies or having been subject to a posted weight limitation for at least one month during the previous year. This bill adds an additional option for demonstrating insufficiency. Namely, under the bill, the requirement is satisfied if an engineering analysis performed by a registered professional engineer indicates that the highway is unable to accommodate heavy agricultural traffic. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill modifies the eligibility criteria for highways to receive agricultural roads improvement program (ARIP) grants from the Department of Transportation. Currently, a highway can qualify for these grants if it is designated as a class XBY highway with structural deficiencies or has been subject to a posted weight limitation for at least one month in the previous year. The bill adds a third qualifying option: if a registered professional engineer conducts an engineering analysis that demonstrates the highway is unable to accommodate heavy agricultural traffic. This new provision provides an additional pathway for local jurisdictions to access grants for improving roads that serve agricultural areas, potentially making it easier for rural communities to upgrade highways that are critical for agricultural transportation. By allowing an engineering analysis as proof of highway insufficiency, the bill creates more flexibility in determining which roads may need improvement under the ARIP grant program.

Committee Categories

Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (31)

Last Action

Representative Brown added as a coauthor (on 03/06/2026)

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