In order to facilitate amendment drafting and the enrolling process, separate
section numbers and headings appear for each type of provision and for each state
agency, even if there are no provisions included in that section number and heading.
Section numbers and headings for which there are no provisions will be deleted in
enrolling and will not appear in the published act.
Following is a list of the most commonly used abbreviations appearing in the
analysis.
DATCPDepartment of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
DCFDepartment of Children and Families
DETFDepartment of Employee Trust Funds
DFIDepartment of Financial Institutions
DHSDepartment of Health Services
DMADepartment of Military Affairs
DNRDepartment of Natural Resources
DOADepartment of Administration
DOCDepartment of Corrections
DOJDepartment of Justice
DORDepartment of Revenue
DOTDepartment of Transportation
DPIDepartment of Public Instruction
DRLDepartment of Regulation and Licensing
DVADepartment of Veterans Affairs
DWDDepartment of Workforce Development
JCFJoint Committee on Finance
OCIOffice of the Commissioner of Insurance
PSCPublic Service Commission
UWUniversity of Wisconsin
WHEDAWisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
WHEFAWisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority
__________________________________________________________________
Agriculture
Farmland Preservation Program
General
This bill makes numerous changes in the Farmland Preservation Program,
which includes farmland preservation planning, zoning, and agreements, and soil
and water conservation requirements.
Under current law, for a farmer to qualify for the farmland preservation tax
credit, the farm must be in a district zoned exclusively for agriculture under an
ordinance certified by the Land and Water Conservation Board (LWCB) or be covered
by a farmland preservation agreement with DATCP, or both. For DATCP to enter
into a farmland preservation agreement, the county in which the farmer lives must
have a farmland preservation plan that is certified by LWCB. Under this bill,
DATCP certifies farmland preservation plans and zoning ordinances.
Farmland preservation planning
Under the bill, certifications of current farmland preservation plans expire
between December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2015. The higher the increase in
population per square mile of a county from 2000 to 2007, the sooner the certification
of its farmland preservation plan expires. A county must submit an updated
farmland preservation plan that meets the requirements in the bill and have the
plan certified by DATCP to enable farmers in the county to continue to claim the
farmland preservation tax credit. Counties must submit their plans for
recertification every ten years.
The bill requires a county to include in its farmland preservation plan a
description of the county's policy and goals related to farmland preservation and
agricultural development and of the actions that the county will take to preserve
farmland and promote agricultural development. The county must also identify
farmland preservation areas, which are areas that the county plans to preserve for
agricultural use and for related uses.
The bill requires a county seeking to have DATCP certify its farmland
preservation plan to submit the plan and related information to DATCP and to
certify that the plan complies with the requirements in the bill. DATCP may certify
the plan based on the county's certification or may review the plan and determine
whether to certify it based on DATCP's own determination of whether it complies
with those requirements.
The bill authorizes DATCP to award a planning grant to reimburse a county for
up to 50 percent of the cost of preparing an updated farmland preservation plan.
Farmland preservation zoning
Under current law, a city, village, town, or county (political subdivision) may
adopt a zoning ordinance that enables farmers to be eligible for the farmland
preservation tax credit.
Under this bill, certifications of current farmland preservation zoning
ordinances expire between December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2016. The higher
the increase in population per square mile of a political subdivision from 2000 to
2007, the sooner its certification expires. A political subdivision must submit an
updated farmland preservation zoning ordinance that meets the requirements in the
bill and have it certified by DATCP to enable the farmers in the political subdivision
to continue to claim the farmland preservation tax credit based on the zoning
ordinance. Political subdivisions must submit their zoning ordinances for
recertification every ten years.
Under the bill, to be eligible for certification, a farmland preservation zoning
ordinance must be substantially consistent with a certified county farmland
preservation plan.
Under the bill, in addition to agricultural uses, a political subdivision may allow
agriculture-related uses in a farmland preservation zoning district without
requiring conditional use permits. Agriculture-related uses include businesses that
sell farm equipment or supplies and businesses that store or process agricultural
products or that process agricultural wastes and other uses specified by DATCP.
The bill also authorizes political subdivisions to approve certain uses other
than agricultural and agriculture-related uses in a farmland preservation zoning
district with conditional use permits. Generally, these include a transportation,
communications, utility, governmental, institutional, religious, or nonprofit
community use if the political subdivision makes certain determinations, including
that the proposed use and its location in the zoning district are reasonable and
appropriate, considering alternative locations; that the use is reasonably designed
to minimize the conversion of land from agricultural use; and that the use does not
substantially impair the agricultural use of surrounding parcels.
Current law requires a political subdivision to specify a minimum lot size for
farmland preservation zoning districts. This bill eliminates that requirement.
The bill provides two methods for political subdivisions to allow the
construction of nonfarm residences in farmland preservation zoning districts. A
political subdivision may issue a conditional use permit for the construction of a
single nonfarm residence if several requirements are satisfied. The requirements
include that the ratio of nonfarm residential acreage to farm acreage on the base
farm tract on which the residence will be located will not be greater than 1 to 20 after
the residence is constructed and that there will not be more than four nonfarm
dwelling units, nor five dwelling units of any kind, on the base farm tract after the
nonfarm residence is constructed. A base farm tract is all of the land that is part of
a single farm when DATCP first certifies the updated farmland preservation zoning
ordinance.
The bill also authorizes a political subdivision to issue a conditional use permit
that covers more than one nonfarm residence. The parcels on which the nonfarm
residences are constructed must be contiguous and the political subdivision must
ensure that if all of the nonfarm residences were constructed, each would satisfy the
conditions described above for approval of a single nonfarm residence.
The bill requires a political subdivision seeking to have DATCP certify its
farmland preservation zoning ordinance to submit the ordinance and related
information to DATCP and to certify that the ordinance complies with the
requirements in the bill. DATCP may certify the ordinance based on the political
subdivision's certification or may review the ordinance and determine whether to
certify it based on DATCP's own determination of whether it complies with those
requirements.
Under current law, a political subdivision may rezone land out of a farmland
preservation zoning district only after making findings based on consideration of
matters that include whether providing public facilities to accommodate
development will place an unreasonable burden on affected local governments and
whether development will cause undue water or air pollution or unreasonably
adverse effects on rare natural areas. The law requires political subdivisions to
notify DATCP when they rezone land out of a farmland preservation district.
Under the bill, in order to rezone land out of a farmland preservation zoning
district, a political subdivision must make a number of findings, including that the
land is better suited for a use not allowed in a farmland preservation zoning district,
that the rezoning is substantially consistent with the certified county farmland
preservation plan, and that the rezoning will not substantially impair the
agricultural use of surrounding parcels. The bill requires an annual report of the
amount and location of land that was rezoned out of farmland preservation zoning
districts.
Under current law, when property is rezoned out of a farmland preservation
zoning district, DATCP must place a lien on the rezoned land in an amount equal to
the farmland preservation tax credits received by the owner of the land during the
preceding ten years, plus interest. The law also requires DATCP to file a lien when
a conditional use permit is granted for a use that is not an agricultural use.
This bill eliminates the lien requirements. Under the bill, a political
subdivision may not rezone land out of a farmland preservation zoning district until
the owner of the land pays the political subdivision an amount equal to the number
of acres rezoned multiplied by three times the per acre value of the highest value of
cropland in the city, village, or town in which the land is located, as determined by
DOR for the purposes of use value assessment. The political subdivision must pay
this amount to DATCP. The political subdivision may require a higher payment for
rezoning and retain the additional amount.
Farmland preservation agreements
Under current law, DATCP enters into farmland preservation agreements with
farmers in counties with certified farmland preservation plans. An agreement
requires the landowner to maintain the land in agricultural use for the term of the
agreement, except that DATCP may release land from the agreement under specified
circumstances. The term of a farmland preservation agreement is from 10 to 25
years, subject to renewal for additional 10- to 25-year terms.
This bill prohibits DATCP from renewing current farmland preservation
agreements. The bill authorizes DATCP to enter into a new farmland preservation
agreement, with a term of at least 15 years, only for land that is in an agricultural
enterprise area, as designated by DATCP.
DATCP may not designate an area as an agricultural enterprise area unless it
is entirely located in a farmland preservation area identified in a certified farmland
preservation plan and it is primarily in agricultural use. DATCP may designate an
area as an agricultural enterprise area only if it receives a petition requesting the
designation filed by each political subdivision in which any part of the area is located
and by the owners of at least five farms that would be eligible for coverage by
farmland preservation agreements.
Current law specifies situations in which DATCP may release land from, or
terminate, a farmland preservation agreement. Generally, when land is released or
an agreement is terminated, DATCP must place a lien on the land in an amount
equal to the farmland preservation tax credits received by the owner during the
preceding ten years, plus interest.
This bill eliminates the lien requirement. Under the bill, DATCP may release
land from, or terminate, a farmland preservation agreement if it finds that the
termination or release will not impair agricultural use of other farmland and if the
owner of the land pays to DATCP an amount equal to the number of acres rezoned
multiplied by three times the per acre value of the highest value of cropland in the
city, village, or town in which the land is located, as determined by DOR for the
purposes of use value assessment.
Soil and water conservation
Current law requires counties to establish soil and water conservation
standards, which must be approved by LWCB in order for farmers in the county to
be eligible for farmland preservation tax credits. A county must monitor compliance
with its soil and water conservation standards and if it determines that a farmer
violates the standards, it must issue a notice of noncompliance to the farmer. As long
as a farmer is out of compliance with the county standards, the farmer is ineligible
for the farmland preservation tax credit.
This bill eliminates the requirement that each county establish soil and water
conservation standards. Under the bill, a farmer must comply with land and water
conservation standards that DATCP has promulgated under other current laws. The
bill continues the requirement that a county monitor compliance with the standards
and specifically requires a county to inspect each farm for which the owner claims
farmland preservation tax credits at least once every four years. The bill requires
a county to issue a notice of noncompliance if it determines that a farmer violates the
standards. The county must provide a copy of each notice to DOR. As long as a
farmer is out of compliance with DATCP's standards, the farmer is ineligible for the
farmland preservation tax credit.
For a description of the changes in the farmland preservation tax credit, please
see "TAXATION."
Purchase of agricultural conservation easements
An agricultural conservation easement (easement) is an interest in land that
preserves the land for agricultural use. This bill creates a program for the purchase
of easements, from willing landowners, by DATCP in conjunction with political
subdivisions and nonprofit conservation organizations (applicants). Under the bill,
DATCP may reimburse an applicant for the transaction costs (such as the costs of
land surveys and appraisals) for obtaining an easement plus not more than 50
percent of the appraised fair market value of the easement.
DATCP may approve an application only if it determines that the purchase of
the easement would serve a public purpose, considering such criteria as the value of
the easement in preserving or enhancing agricultural production capacity and water
quality, and the likelihood that the land would be converted to nonagricultural use
if it is not protected by an easement.
Once DATCP approves an application, DATCP and the cooperating entity enter
into an agreement specifying the terms of DATCP's participation in the purchase of
the easement, including the share of the costs that DATCP will pay. After an
applicant purchases an easement and records it with the register of deeds, DATCP
provides the agreed-upon reimbursement. Both the cooperating entity and DATCP
may enforce the restrictions in the easement. An easement purchased under the
program continues indefinitely, except that a court may terminate an easement if it
finds that it is no longer possible for the easement to achieve its original purpose.
The bill authorizes $12,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing for the
purchase of easements.
Current law authorizes DATCP to participate in the federal Conservation
Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) under which payments are made to
landowners for measures to improve water quality, erosion control, and wildlife
habitat. Current law authorizes $40,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing
for participation in CREP. This bill reduces that borrowing authority by
$12,000,000.
Other agriculture
Under current law, DATCP awards grants for two kinds of clean sweep
programs, one in which counties collect unwanted agricultural chemicals, such as
pesticides, and the other in which local governments collect and dispose of household
hazardous waste and unwanted prescription drugs. This bill eliminates the grants
for clean sweep programs.
This bill establishes an assessment to be paid to DATCP by businesses that
slaughter certain kinds of animals. The assessment per animal is one cent for
poultry, ten cents for calves, and 14 cents for older cattle and for swine. The bill
appropriates the revenue from the assessment for meat safety inspections and
animal health programs.
This bill authorizes DATCP to charge a reinspection fee if DATCP conducts a
reinspection of a fish farm, animal market, animal dealer operation, an animal
trucker operation, or premises at which farm-raised deer are kept because the
department has found that the premises, facility, or operation violates state law or
administrative rules. The bill also eliminates the requirement that DATCP inspect
each fish farm when it is first registered with DATCP.
Currently, DATCP awards grants for land and water resource management
projects and for the construction of animal waste management systems. This bill
increases the general obligation bonding authority for the grants by $7,000,000.
This bill eliminates the LWCB, which has responsibilities related to farmland
preservation, soil and water resource management, and the reduction of water
pollution from nonpoint sources. The bill eliminates some LWCB responsibilities
and transfers others to DATCP.
The bill creates the Land and Water Resource Council to advise DATCP and
DNR about matters related to land and water resources.
This bill repeals current requirements concerning the labeling of agricultural
and vegetable seed, prohibitions on the sale of seed containing more than specified
amounts of certain noxious weed seeds, and the designation of certain weeds as
noxious weeds. The bill requires DATCP to promulgate rules on the subjects of seed
labeling, the amount of noxious weed seeds in agricultural and vegetable seed, and
the designation of weeds as noxious weeds.
The bill lowers the fees for seed labeler's licenses for some persons with annual
gross sales of less than $100,000 and increases the fees for persons with higher
annual gross sales. The bill also authorizes DATCP to change the fees by rule.
This bill transfers a total of $1,000,000 from the agricultural chemical cleanup
fund to the general fund and a total of $1,500,000 from the agrichemical
management fund to the general fund.
commerce and economic development
Economic development
Under current law, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) may award
grants or make loans under the Community-Based Economic Development
Program, the Rural Economic Development Program, and the Minority Business
Grant and Loan program to eligible businesses, organizations, or individuals that
agree to undertake certain eligible activities.
The Rural Economic Development Board advises Commerce on the Rural
Economic Development Program, and the Minority Business Development Board
advises Commerce on the Minority Business Grant and Loan Program.
Under current law, the Development Finance Board in Commerce awards
grants under the Wisconsin Development Fund program.
This bill eliminates the Community-Based Economic Development Program,
the Rural Economic Development Program and Rural Economic Development
Board, the Minority Business Grant and Loan Program and Minority Business
Development Board, and the Development Finance Board. The bill creates the
Economic Policy Board. The responsibilities of the Development Finance Board are
assumed by the Economic Policy Board.
This bill creates the forward innovation fund (FIF). Under the FIF, Commerce
may, in consultation with the Economic Policy Board, award grants or make loans
for the purpose of engaging in certain eligible activities to businesses, municipalities,
community-based organizations, cooperative associations, local development
corporations, and nonprofit organizations working on economic or community
development.
Eligible activities under the FIF include:
1. The start-up, expansion, or retention of minority businesses.
2. The start-up, expansion, or retention of businesses in economically
distressed areas.
3. Innovative proposals to strengthen inner cities.
4. Innovative proposals to strengthen rural communities.
5. Innovative programs to strengthen clusters.
6. Innovative proposals to strengthen entrepreneurship.
