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Bill > AB874


WI AB874

WI AB874
Environmental review prerequisites for certain major highway project actions.


summary

Introduced
01/16/2026
In Committee
02/04/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under current law, the Department of Transportation may recommend highway projects for inclusion in the major highway projects program by submitting a report to the Transportation Projects Commission (TPC) that includes a request for TPC approval to proceed with the project. Under current law, TPC must have been notified that a final environmental impact statement or environmental assessment for the project has been approved by the federal highway administration before it may approve a project under this procedure. This bill changes this requirement to require only that a draft environmental impact statement, environmental assessment, or categorical exclusion have been approved. In addition, the bill specifies that approval of the draft environmental document must be made by DOT unless approval by the federal highway administration is necessary to secure federal funding. Also under current law, DOT may not begin construction of certain major highway projects with a total cost of more than $75,000,000 until a report is provided to TPC. This report may not be submitted by DOT until a draft environmental impact statement or environmental assessment is completed. Under this bill, the report may also be submitted after completion of a draft categorical exclusion.

AI Summary

This bill modifies the requirements for approving major highway projects by the Transportation Projects Commission (TPC). Previously, the TPC could only approve a project if a final environmental impact statement or environmental assessment had been approved by the federal highway administration. This bill lowers that threshold, allowing approval if a draft environmental impact statement, draft environmental assessment, or a "categorical exclusion" (which is a determination that a project doesn't require a full environmental assessment or impact statement, as defined by federal regulations) has been approved. Furthermore, the bill specifies that the approval of these draft environmental documents will be made by the Department of Transportation (DOT), unless federal highway administration approval is necessary to secure federal funding. This change also applies to the reporting requirements for major highway projects costing over $75,000,000, allowing the DOT to submit a report to the TPC after a draft categorical exclusion is completed, in addition to the existing options of a draft environmental impact statement or draft environmental assessment.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Laid on the table (on 02/19/2026)

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