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WI AB852
WI AB852Farmland preservation implementation grants, maximum acres of agricultural enterprise areas, indexing the farmland preservation tax credit for inflation, and making an appropriation. (FE)
summary
Introduced
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
In Committee
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to award grants to cities, villages, towns, counties, regional planning commissions, and tribal governments for various purposes related to implementing a county’s certified farmland preservation plan. Under the bill, DATCP must enter into a contract with a grant recipient before distributing grant funds, and the contract must identify costs eligible for reimbursement through the grant for the following activities: 1) certifying a farmland preservation zoning ordinance for the first time; 2) enrolling land in farmland preservation agreements; 3) designating an agricultural enterprise area or facilitating agricultural preservation and development; 4) monitoring compliance with land and water conservation standards; and 5) farmland preservation program outreach. Under current law, DATCP may designate agricultural enterprise areas targeted for agricultural preservation and development. Current law authorizes DATCP to designate agricultural enterprise areas in the state with a combined area of not more than 2,000,000 acres. The bill increases this authorization to a combined area of not more than 3,000,000 acres. The bill also indexes for inflation the dollar amounts used to calculate the farmland preservation income tax credit. Under current law, claimants may claim a farmland preservation income tax credit for qualifying acres of farmland at a rate of $10 or $12.50 per qualifying acre, depending on certain factors. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to award grants to local governments and tribal governments to help them implement their farmland preservation plans, covering costs like certifying zoning ordinances, enrolling land in preservation agreements, designating agricultural enterprise areas (which are specific regions targeted for farming preservation and development), monitoring conservation practices, and conducting outreach. It also increases the total acreage that can be designated as agricultural enterprise areas from 2 million to 3 million acres. Furthermore, the bill adjusts the farmland preservation income tax credit, which currently offers a credit per qualifying acre of farmland, to account for inflation, meaning the dollar amounts used to calculate this credit will be updated annually to reflect changes in the cost of farming or general consumer prices, ensuring the credit's value is maintained over time.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (42)
Clint Anderson (D)*,
Margaret Arney (D)*,
Mike Bare (D)*,
Jill Billings (D)*,
Brienne Brown (D)*,
Ryan Clancy (D)*,
Karen DeSanto (D)*,
Ben DeSmidt (D)*,
Jodene Emerson (D)*,
Joan Fitzgerald (D)*,
Russell Goodwin (D)*,
Francesca Hong (D)*,
Andrew Hysell (D)*,
Jenna Jacobson (D)*,
Alex Joers (D)*,
Tara Johnson (D)*,
Darrin Madison (D)*,
Maureen McCarville (D)*,
Vincent Miresse (D)*,
Greta Neubauer (D)*,
Christian Phelps (D)*,
Ann Roe (D)*,
Joe Sheehan (D)*,
Christine Sinicki (D)*,
Shelia Stubbs (D)*,
Lisa Subeck (D)*,
Angelito Tenorio (D)*,
Randy Udell (D)*,
Tim Carpenter (D),
Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D),
Dora Drake (D),
Jodi Habush Sinykin (D),
Dianne Hesselbein (D),
LaTonya Johnson (D),
Sarah Keyeski (D),
Chris Larson (D),
Brad Pfaff (D),
Melissa Ratcliff (D),
Kelda Roys (D),
Jeff Smith (D),
Mark Spreitzer (D),
Jamie Wall (D),
Last Action
Fiscal estimate received (on 02/05/2026)
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/asm/bill/ab852 |
| Fiscal Note - AB852: Fiscal Estimate From DOR | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/ab852/ab852_dor.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB852.pdf |
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