Bill

Bill > AB956


WI AB956

WI AB956
Exempting certain agricultural warehouses from automatic fire sprinkler requirements.


summary

Introduced
01/29/2026
In Committee
02/12/2026
Crossed Over
02/19/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill exempts specified agricultural warehouses used to store any of the following from being required to have an automatic fire sprinkler system installed: 1) liquid bulk fertilizer or liquid bulk pesticide if the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection requires the storage container of the liquid bulk fertilizer or pesticide to be located within a secondary containment structure that complies with rules promulgated by DATCP and 2) dry bulk fertilizer and dry bulk pesticide. The bill defines a “specified agricultural warehouse” as a building designed for the primary purpose of storing agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, rodenticides, insecticides, and other crop protection products for distribution to agricultural producers, and the bill applies only to specified agricultural warehouses for which construction is initiated after the bill takes effect. Under the bill, the exemption applies only if the owner of a specified agricultural warehouse notifies the chief of the local fire department that water should not be used to suppress any fire at the warehouse and of any changes to the chemicals stored at the warehouse. Also, the exemption does not apply to an office or store within or attached to the specified agricultural warehouse. Under current law, the Department of Safety and Professional Services may promulgate rules requiring owners of places of employment and public buildings to install fire detection, prevention, or suppression devices.

AI Summary

This bill exempts certain agricultural warehouses from the requirement to install automatic fire sprinkler systems, which are devices that automatically spray water to extinguish fires. Specifically, warehouses primarily used for storing agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, rodenticides, insecticides, and other crop protection products for distribution to farmers, and for which construction begins after the bill becomes law, are eligible for this exemption. The exemption applies to warehouses storing liquid bulk fertilizer or pesticide if the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) mandates that these liquids be kept in a secondary containment structure that meets DATCP's rules, and also to warehouses storing dry bulk fertilizer and dry bulk pesticide. However, this exemption does not apply to offices or stores within or attached to these warehouses, nor does it apply if there isn't a separate fire escape route from an office that bypasses the storage area. Furthermore, the owner of such a warehouse must inform the local fire department chief that water should not be used to fight fires there and must notify them of the types of chemicals stored and any changes to them. The bill also clarifies that other fire safety measures, besides automatic sprinklers, can still be required.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (16)

Last Action

Received from Assembly (on 02/23/2026)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...