AB771: Bill Text

Municipal dwelling inspection

The bill prohibits a city, village, or town from enacting or enforcing an ordinance or otherwise imposing a requirement that includes aesthetic considerations for purposes of inspection criteria for the interior of any structure or part of a structure that is used or intended to be used as a home, residence, or sleeping place. The bill defines “aesthetic considerations” to include considerations relating to color and texture and design considerations that do not relate to health or safety.

Public utility service to rental dwelling units

The bill requires a public utility that provides electric service to a tenant residing in a rental dwelling unit to notify the owner of the unit no later than five days before disconnecting service based on nonpayment by the tenant, but only if the owner has requested the public utility to make the notification. In addition, the bill allows a public utility to provide information about a tenant's past due charges to the owner by telephone. The bill also prohibits a public utility that provides any type of service to require the owner of a rental dwelling unit to provide proof of eviction or other evidence that a tenant has vacated the unit as a condition for providing or resuming service to the unit.

Municipal utility arrearage collection

Current law provides certain procedures for the collection of municipal utility charges that are in arrears. Under one procedure, if a municipal utility provides utility service to a property and payment for the service is in arrears, the utility has a lien on the property and may have arrearages inserted as a tax on the property. In addition, if the municipal utility uses the arrearage collection procedure for a property that is a rental dwelling unit and provides a notice of arrearage to the owner, the municipality has a lien on the property of a tenant who is responsible for the arrearage. Also under current law, a municipal utility must send bills for water or electric service to a customer who is a tenant in the tenant's own name.

Under this bill, a municipal utility may make use of the procedures described above only if the utility is in compliance with the requirement that it send bills for water or electric service to a tenant in the tenant's own name.

Levy limits

Generally, under current law, local levy limits are applied to the property tax levies that are imposed by political subdivisions in December of each year. Current law prohibits a political subdivision from increasing its levy by a percentage that exceeds its “valuation factor,” which is defined as the greater of either 0 percent or the percentage change in the political subdivision's equalized value due to new construction, less improvements removed.

Also under current law, a political subdivision must reduce its allowable levy by the estimated amount of any revenue from fees or payments in lieu of taxes if the revenue is received for providing certain “covered services” that were funded with property tax revenues in calendar year 2013. The “covered services” are garbage collection, fire protection, snow plowing, street sweeping, and storm water management, except garbage collection by a political subdivision that owned and operated a landfill on January 1, 2013.

This bill eliminates the levy limit reduction exception for garbage collection by a political subdivision that owned and operated a landfill on January 1, 2013. Also under this bill, the amount by which a political subdivision must reduce its levy under this provision is limited to the amount expended in 2013 from the levy of the political subdivision for providing the covered service.

Procedural changes in eviction actions

This bill makes certain changes to the requirements for filing and pleading an action for eviction and to the defenses and remedies available in an eviction action.

Court records

Under current law, the director of state courts maintains the consolidated court automation program website, which is an internet site that is the statewide electronic circuit court case management system. The director of state courts has discretion regarding what information is available through the CCAP website. Under the bill, the director of state courts may not remove case management information from CCAP for any civil case that is not a closed, confidential, or sealed case for a period of at least ten years after the date that final judgment was entered in the case.

Service or assistance animals; emotional support animals

Under the state open housing law, various forms and types of discrimination in housing are prohibited, including discrimination against persons with disabilities. In addition, the open housing law contains a provision that specifically addresses individuals whose vision, hearing, or mobility is impaired and who keep an animal specially trained to lead or assist the individual.

The bill repeals this provision and replaces it with provisions that address 1) animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for persons with disabilities and 2) emotional support animals, which are defined in the bill as animals that provide emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship but that are not trained to perform tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities. Subject to certain exceptions, the bill provides that it is discrimination in housing to deny housing to an individual with a disability who keeps either type of animal. However, the bill provides that a person seeking to keep an animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability may be requested to provide documentation of his or her disability and disability-related need for the animal, unless such disability or need is already known or apparent. The bill also provides that a person seeking to keep an emotional support animal may be requested to provide documentation, from a state-licensed health professional acting within his or her scope of practice, of his or her disability and disability-related need for the animal. Finally, the bill includes forfeiture penalties for a person who misrepresents having a disability or a disability-related need for an emotional support animal in order to obtain housing, and for a licensed health professional who makes such misrepresentations regarding his or her patient.

Municipal administrative review

Current law provides a procedure by which a person who is adversely affected by an administrative determination made by a municipality may have review of the determination. This bill provides that if a municipal authority's order is overturned or the municipal authority withdraws the order that was the subject of the appeal, the municipality and municipal authority must refund any fee paid to it by the appellant as a condition of filing the appeal.

Enforcement of rental unit energy efficiency program

The 2017-19 budget act, 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, eliminated the rental unit energy efficiency program effective January 1, 2018. Under the program, the Department of Safety and Professional Services established a code of minimum energy efficiency standards for rental units. Also under the program, an owner of a rental unit, before transferring an ownership interest in the unit, was required do one of the following:

1. Have the unit inspected by a certified inspector who issues a certificate stating that the unit meets the minimum energy efficiency standards.

2. If the unit is scheduled for demolition within two years, obtain a waiver of the certification requirement from DSPS or a certified inspector.

3. Obtain a stipulation between the transferee of the unit and DSPS or the city, village, or town in which the unit is located stating that the transferee will bring the unit into compliance with the minimum energy efficiency standards no later than one year after the date of the transfer.

This bill provides that, effective on the program elimination date, 1) an order related to the program issued by DSPS before that date is void and unenforceable; 2) DSPS may not take any enforcement action related to a violation of the program that occurs before that date; and 3) a stipulation or waiver related to the program entered into before that date is void and unenforceable.

Because this bill may increase or decrease the cost of the development, construction, financing, purchasing, sale, ownership, or availability of housing in this state, the Department of Administration, as required by law, will prepare a housing impact analysis to be printed as an appendix to this bill.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB771,1 Section 1. 59.69 (4m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,6,11 59.69 (4m) (a) Subject to par. pars. (b) and (bm), a county, as an exercise of its zoning and police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of the community and of the state, may regulate by ordinance any place, structure or object with a special character, historic interest, aesthetic interest or other significant value, for the purpose of preserving the place, structure or object and its significant characteristics. Subject to pars. (b), (bm), and (c), the county may create a landmarks commission to designate historic landmarks and establish historic districts. Subject to par. pars. (b) and (bm), the county may regulate all historic landmarks and all property within each historic district to preserve the historic landmarks and property within the district and the character of the district.

AB771,2 Section 2. 59.69 (4m) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,7,2 59.69 (4m) (bm) In the repair or replacement of a property that is designated as a historic landmark or included within a historic district or neighborhood conservation district under this subsection, a county shall permit an owner to use materials that an ordinary observer would perceive, when viewed from the centerline of an adjacent highway, as having a substantially similar appearance to the original material.

AB771,3 Section 3. 60.64 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,7,13 60.64 (1) Subject to sub. subs. (2) and (2m), the town board, in the exercise of its zoning and police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of the community and of the state, may regulate any place, structure or object with a special character, historic interest, aesthetic interest or other significant value for the purpose of preserving the place, structure or object and its significant characteristics. Subject to subs. (2), (2m), and (3), the town board may create a landmarks commission to designate historic landmarks and establish historic districts. Subject to sub. subs. (2) and (2m), the board may regulate all historic landmarks and all property within each historic district to preserve the historic landmarks and property within the district and the character of the district.

AB771,4 Section 4. 60.64 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,7,19 60.64 (2m) In the repair or replacement of a property that is designated as a historic landmark or included within a historic district or neighborhood conservation district under this section, the town board shall allow an owner to use materials that an ordinary observer would perceive, when viewed from the centerline of an adjacent highway, as having a substantially similar appearance to the original material.

AB771,5 Section 5. 62.23 (7) (em) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,8,10 62.23 (7) (em) 1. Subject to subd. subds. 2. and 2m., a city, as an exercise of its zoning and police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of the community and of the state, may regulate by ordinance, or if a city contains any property that is listed on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places shall, not later than 1995, enact an ordinance to regulate, any place, structure or object with a special character, historic, archaeological or aesthetic interest, or other significant value, for the purpose of preserving the place, structure or object and its significant characteristics. Subject to subds. 2., 2m., and 3., a city may create a landmarks commission to designate historic or archaeological landmarks and establish historic districts. Subject to subd. subds. 2. and 2m., the city may regulate, or if the city contains any property that is listed on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places shall regulate, all historic or archaeological landmarks and all property within each historic district to preserve the historic or archaeological landmarks and property within the district and the character of the district.

AB771,6 Section 6. 62.23 (7) (em) 2m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,8,17 62.23 (7) (em) 2m. In the repair or replacement of a property that is designated as a historic landmark or included within a historic district or neighborhood conservation district under this paragraph, a city shall allow an owner to use materials that an ordinary observer would perceive, when viewed from the centerline of an adjacent highway, as having a substantially similar appearance to the original material.

AB771,7 Section 7. 66.0104 (2) (d) 2. c. of the statutes is repealed.

AB771,8 Section 8. 66.0104 (2) (e) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,8,23 66.0104 (2) (e) 1. Requires that a rental property or rental unit be inspected except upon a complaint by any person, as part of a program of regularly scheduled inspections conducted in compliance with under s. 66.0119, as applicable, or as required under state or federal law.

AB771,9 Section 9. 66.0104 (2) (e) 2. am. of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,9,2 66.0104 (2) (e) 2. am. The amount of the fee does not exceed the actual and direct cost of performing the inspection.

AB771,10 Section 10 . 66.0104 (2) (e) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,9,15 66.0104 (2) (e) 4. Except as provided in this subdivision, requires that a rental property or rental unit be certified, registered, or licensed or requires that a residential rental property owner register or obtain a certification or license related to owning or managing the residential rental property. A city, village, town, or county may require that a rental unit or residential rental property owner be registered if the registration consists only of providing the one name of the an owner and an or authorized contact person and an address and, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail address or other information necessary to receive communications by other electronic means at which the contact person may be contacted. No city, village, town, or county, except a 1st class city, may charge a fee for registration under this subdivision. No fee charged for registration under this subdivision may exceed the reasonable and direct cost of operating a registration program.

AB771,11 Section 11 . 66.0104 (2) (g) of the statutes is repealed.

AB771,12 Section 12. 66.0104 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,9,24 66.0104 (2m) If a city, village, town, or county has in effect an ordinance that authorizes the inspection of a rental property or rental unit upon a complaint from an inspector or other employee or elected official of the city, village, town, or county, the city, village, town, or county shall maintain for each inspection performed upon a complaint from an employee or official a record of the name of the person making the complaint, the nature of the complaint, and any inspection conducted upon the complaint.

AB771,13 Section 13 . 66.0104 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,10,3 66.0104 (3) (c) If a city, village, town, or county has in effect on March 2, 2016, an ordinance that is inconsistent with sub. (2) (e), or (f), or (g), the ordinance does not apply and may not be enforced.

AB771,14 Section 14. 66.0602 (2m) (b) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is amended to read:

AB771,10,12 66.0602 (2m) (b) 1. In this paragraph, “covered service" means garbage collection, fire protection, snow plowing, street sweeping, or storm water management, except that garbage collection may not be a covered service for any political subdivision that owned and operated a landfill on January 1, 2013. With regard to fire protection, “covered service” does not include the production, storage, transmission, sale and delivery, or furnishing of water for public fire protection purposes.

AB771,15 Section 15 . 66.0602 (2m) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,10,20 66.0602 (2m) (b) 2. Except as provided in subd. 4., if a political subdivision receives revenues that are designated to pay for a covered service that was funded in 2013 by the levy of the political subdivision, the political subdivision shall reduce its levy limit in the current year by an amount equal to the estimated amount of fee revenue collected for providing the covered service, less any previous reductions made under this subdivision, not to exceed the amount funded in 2013 by the levy of the political subdivision.

AB771,16 Section 16 . 66.0602 (2m) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,11,3 66.0602 (2m) (b) 3. Except as provided in subd. 4., if a political subdivision receives payments in lieu of taxes that are designated to pay for a covered service that was funded in 2013 by the levy of the political subdivision, the political subdivision shall reduce its levy limit in the current year by the estimated amount of payments in lieu of taxes received by the political subdivision to pay for the covered service, less any previous reductions made under this subdivision, not to exceed the amount funded in 2013 by the levy of the political subdivision.

AB771,17 Section 17 . 66.0628 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,11,12 66.0628 (2m) A political subdivision may not impose a fee or charge related to the political subdivision enforcing an ordinance related to noxious weeds, electronic waste, or other building or property maintenance standards unless the political subdivision first notifies, by 1st class mail, or if the person against whom the fee or charge is to be imposed has provided an electronic mail address or information necessary to receive communications by other electronic means, by electronic mail or other electronic means, the person against whom the fee or charge is to be imposed that the fee or charge may be imposed.

AB771,18 Section 18 . 66.0809 (3m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,11,20 66.0809 (3m) (a) If sub. (5) applies, the municipal utility is complying with sub. (5) (am) 1., and a notice of arrears under sub. (3) (a) is given or past-due charges are certified to the comptroller under s. 62.69 (2) (f), on the date the notice of arrears is given, or the past-due charges are certified under s. 62.69 (2) (f), the municipality has a lien upon the assets of each tenant of a rental dwelling unit who is responsible for arrears in the amount of the arrears, including any penalty assessed pursuant to the rules of the utility.

AB771,19 Section 19 . 66.0809 (5) (am) of the statutes is renumbered 66.0809 (5) (am) 1. and amended to read:

AB771,11,24 66.0809 (5) (am) 1. A municipal public utility shall send bills for water or electric service to a customer who is a tenant in the tenant's own name.

AB771,12,8 2. If a customer who is a tenant vacates his or her rental dwelling unit, and the owner of the rental dwelling unit provides the municipal public utility, no later than 21 days after the date on which the tenant vacates the rental dwelling unit, with a written notice that contains a forwarding address for the tenant and the date that the tenant vacated the rental dwelling unit, the utility shall continue to send past-due notices to the customer at his or her forwarding address until the past-due charges are paid or until notice has been provided under sub. (3) (a) or the past-due charges have been certified to the comptroller under s. 62.69 (2) (f).

AB771,20 Section 20 . 66.0809 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,12,16 66.0809 (5) (b) A municipal public utility may use sub. (3) or, if s. 62.69 applies, s. 62.69 (2) (f), to collect arrearages incurred after the owner of a rental dwelling unit has provided the utility with written notice under par. (a) if the municipal public utility is complying with par. (am) 1. and serves notice of the past-due charges on the owner of the rental dwelling unit within 14 days of the date on which the tenant's charges became past due. The municipal public utility shall serve notice in the manner provided in s. 801.14 (2).

AB771,21 Section 21 . 66.0821 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,13,5 66.0821 (4) (a) The governing body of the municipality may establish sewerage service charges in an amount to meet all or part of the requirements for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, operation, maintenance, repair, and depreciation of the sewerage system, and for the payment of all or part of the principal and interest of any indebtedness incurred for those purposes, including the replacement of funds advanced by or paid from the general fund of the municipality. Service charges made by a metropolitan sewerage district to any town, village, or city shall be levied by the town, village, or city against the individual sewer system users within the corporate limits of the municipality, and the municipality shall collect the charges and promptly remit them to the metropolitan sewerage district. Delinquent charges shall be collected in accordance with sub. (4) (d). The governing body of a municipality may not establish any charge under this paragraph that is not related to providing sewerage service.

AB771,22 Section 22 . 68.125 of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,13,10 68.125 Refund of fees. If in an administrative appeal under s. 68.10, the municipal authority's order is overturned or the municipal authority withdraws the order that was the subject of the appeal, the municipality and municipal authority shall refund any fee paid to it by the appellant as a condition of filing the appeal.

AB771,23 Section 23. 101.02 (7w) of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,13,14 101.02 (7w) (a) In this subsection, “aesthetic considerations” include considerations relating to color and texture and design considerations that do not relate to health or safety.

AB771,13,19 (b) Notwithstanding subs. (7) (a) and (7r), no city, village, or town may enact or enforce an ordinance, or otherwise impose any requirement, that includes aesthetic considerations for purposes of inspection criteria for the interior of any structure or part of a structure that is used or intended to be used as a home, residence, or sleeping place.

AB771,24 Section 24 . 101.132 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB771,13,24 101.132 (2) (a) Design and construction of covered multifamily housing. (intro.) In addition to discrimination prohibited under s. 106.50 (2), (2m) and (2r) (b), (bg), and (bm) (br), no person may design or construct covered multifamily housing unless it meets all of the following standards:

AB771,25 Section 25 . 106.50 (1m) (im) of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,14,3 106.50 (1m) (im) “Emotional support animal” means an animal that provides emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship for an individual but that is not trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.

AB771,26 Section 26 . 106.50 (1m) (mx) of the statutes is created to read:

AB771,14,7 106.50 (1m) (mx) “Licensed health professional” means a physician, psychologist, social worker, or other health professional who satisfies all of the following:

AB771,14,8 1. He or she is licensed or certified in this state.

AB771,14,9 2. He or she is acting within the scope of his or her license or certification.

AB771,27 Section 27 . 106.50 (2r) (bg) and (br) of the statutes are created to read:

AB771,14,17 106.50 (2r) (bg) Animals that do work or perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. 1. If an individual has a disability and a disability-related need for an animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the individual, it is discrimination for a person to refuse to rent or sell housing to the individual, cause the eviction of the individual from housing, require extra compensation from the individual as a condition of continued residence in housing, or engage in the harassment of the individual because he or she keeps such an animal.

AB771,15,2 2. If an individual keeps or is seeking to keep an animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks in housing, an owner, lessor, lessor's agent, owner's agent, or representative of a condominium association may request that the individual submit to the owner, lessor, agent, or representative reliable documentation that the individual has a disability and reliable documentation of the disability-related need for the animal, unless the disability is readily apparent or known. If the disability is readily apparent or known but the disability-related need for the animal is not, the individual may be requested to submit reliable documentation of the disability-related need for the animal.

AB771,15,5 3. An individual with a disability who keeps an animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks in housing shall accept liability for sanitation with respect to, and damage to the premises caused by, the animal.