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Category: Wakesports

Wake bills fail to move in WI Legislature

With the Legislature concluding work for the year last month, any hope for meaningful statewide standards for wakesports is on hold until 2025 By Michael Engleson, Wisconsin Lakes Executive Director The Wisconsin Legislature concluded its business for this session last month. Despite the introduction of two bills on the subject, no legislation was passed – […]

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Wakesports Legislation Update

No hearings yet, but some positive movement on AB655/SB680? Here’s what we know on wakesports legislation in Wisconsin headed into the holiday break By Wisconsin Lakes With Wisconsin legislators mostly leaving the state capitol to be home for the holidays, it seems a good time to take stock of the recent flurry of wakesports related […]

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Second wakesports bill would protect Wisconsin’s lakes

Using standards from the recent Wisconsin Conservation Congress resolutions, Sen. Andre Jacque’s proposal provides a compelling alternative to AB656/SB680 Wisconsin Lakes Supports this Proposal (with the condition noted below) Sen. André Jacque (R-DePere) entered the wakesports fray last week, releasing a proposal that would manage wakesports on Wisconsin waters under terms largely in line with […]

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Bill would limit regulation of wakesports; remove local authority to manage impacts

AB656/SB680 fails to provide meaningful standards and prohibits local governments from being stricter, while allowing them to be weaker The bill Wisconsin Lakes reported on in October was formally introduced into the Wisconsin legislature with no changes. LRB-3518 is now AB656 in the Assembly and SB680 in the Senate. Wisconsin Lakes is OPPOSED AB655/SB680 would […]

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The Felzkowski/Swearingen Wakesports Bill – Next Legislative Steps

Understanding the legislative process of the AB656/SB680 As Wisconsin Lakes previously reported, the wakesports bill authored by Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) and Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) was introduced into the Wisconsin Legislature in late November. We’ve received many questions regarding what’s next for the bill in the legislative process. Here’s a primer on where AB656 […]

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ACTION ALERT: PROPOSED WAKESPORTS BILL FALLS SHORT

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TO LET THEM KNOW LRB-3518 IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT WISCONSIN’S LAKES AND THOSE THAT USE THEM By Michael Engleson, Executive Director A bill proposed by Rep. Robert Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) and Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) to regulate wakesurfing and wakeboarding fails to provide any meaningful protection against the activities’ impacts. While Wisconsin […]

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