LRB-3152/1
ZDW:ahe
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
December 2, 2015 - Introduced by Representative Czaja. Referred to Committee on
Environment and Forestry.
AB559,1,3
1An Act to repeal 77.83 (2) (am) and 77.83 (4) (b);
to renumber 77.83 (4) (a); and
2to create 77.83 (2) (ar) of the statutes;
relating to: eliminating the restriction
3on leasing managed forest land.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill eliminates the restriction on leasing land designated as Managed
Forest Land (MFL) to permit persons to engage in a recreational activity and
authorizes the owner of closed MFL to enter into a lease or other agreement
permitting persons to engage in recreational activity on the land.
Under the MFL program administered by the Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), the owner of a parcel of land designated as MFL makes an annual
acreage share payment that is lower than, and in lieu of, the property taxes that
normally would be payable on the land. In exchange, the owner must comply with
certain forestry practices. Under the program, MFL is designated as either "open"
or "closed" to public access. MFL that is designated as "open" must be kept open for
hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, and cross-country skiing (recreational
activities). For MFL that is designated as "closed" the owner must make an
additional payment per acre.
Under current law, the owner of land designated as MFL may not enter into a
lease or other agreement for consideration if the purpose of the lease or agreement
is to permit persons to engage in a recreational activity. This bill eliminates this
restriction and authorizes the owner of MFL that is designated as closed to enter into
a lease or other agreement for consideration that permits persons to engage in a
recreational activity on the land.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB559,1
1Section
1. 77.83 (2) (am) of the statutes is repealed.
AB559,2
2Section
2. 77.83 (2) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
AB559,2,53
77.83
(2) (ar) An owner of managed forest land that is designated as closed may
4enter into a lease or other agreement for consideration that permits persons to
5engage in a recreational activity on the land.
AB559,3
6Section
3. 77.83 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 77.83 (4).
AB559,4
7Section
4. 77.83 (4) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
