SB225-SSA1,14,2 22(2) If a manufacturer or distributor objects to a proposed change in ownership,
23the manufacturer or distributor shall give written notice of its reasons to the dealer
24within 7 business days after receipt of the dealer's notification and complete
25documentation. The manufacturer or distributor has the burden of proof with regard

1to its objection. If the manufacturer or distributor does not give timely notice of its
2objection, the change, sale, or transfer shall be approved.
SB225-SSA1,14,10 3(3) (a) A manufacturer or distributor shall provide a dealer an opportunity to
4designate, in writing, a family member as a successor to the dealership in the event
5of the death, incapacity, or retirement of the dealer. A manufacturer or distributor
6may not prevent or refuse to honor the succession unless the manufacturer or
7distributor has provided to the dealer written notice of its objections within 10
8business days after receipt of the dealer's modification of the dealer's succession
9plan. In the absence of a breach of the dealer agreement, the manufacturer may
10object to the succession only for any of the following reasons:
SB225-SSA1,14,1211 1. Conviction of the successor of a felony or any crime of fraud, deceit, or moral
12turpitude.
SB225-SSA1,14,1313 2. Bankruptcy or insolvency of the successor during the past 10 years.
SB225-SSA1,14,1514 3. Prior termination by the manufacturer of the successor for breach of a dealer
15agreement.
SB225-SSA1,14,1716 4. The lack of an active line of credit for the successor sufficient to purchase the
17manufacturer's product.
SB225-SSA1,14,1818 5. The lack of any license for the successor required by law.
SB225-SSA1,14,2219 (b) The manufacturer or distributor has the burden of proof regarding its
20objection. A family member may not succeed to a dealership if the succession
21involves, without the manufacturer's or distributor's consent, a relocation of the
22business or an alteration of the terms and conditions of the dealer agreement.
SB225-SSA1,27 23Section 27. 218.164 of the statutes is created to read:
SB225-SSA1,14,25 24218.164 Warranty obligation. (1) Each warrantor shall do all of the
25following:
SB225-SSA1,15,3
1(a) Specify, in writing, to each of the warrantor's dealers, the dealer's
2obligations, if any, for preparation, delivery, and warranty service on the warrantor's
3products.
SB225-SSA1,15,54 (b) Compensate the dealer for warranty service performed by the dealer that
5is covered by the warrantor's own warranty.
SB225-SSA1,15,136 (c) Provide the dealer with the schedule of compensation to be paid and the time
7allowances for the performance of any work and service. The schedule of
8compensation shall include reasonable compensation for diagnostic work as well as
9warranty labor. If the schedule of compensation required by this paragraph does not
10include a particular repair, the warrantor shall reimburse the dealer for warranty
11service for the actual time expended unless the warrantor demonstrates that the
12actual time was not reasonable. If the warrantor demonstrates that the actual time
13was not reasonable, the dealer shall be paid a reasonable sum.
SB225-SSA1,15,18 14(2) Time allowances for the diagnosis and performance of warranty labor shall
15be reasonable for the work to be performed. The compensation of a dealer for
16warranty labor may not be less than the lowest retail labor rate actually charged by
17the dealer in the ordinary course of business for like nonwarranty labor as long as
18the rate is reasonable.
SB225-SSA1,16,2 19(3) The warrantor shall reimburse the dealer for any warranty part at actual
20wholesale cost plus a minimum 30 percent handling charge and the cost, if any, of
21freight to return such part to the warrantor. If a part is sent to the dealer at no cost,
22the dealer is entitled to payment of 30 percent of the wholesale cost of the part from
23warrantor as a handling charge. The maximum handling charge for a part shall not
24exceed $300. If the warrantor requires the dealer to return a warranty part,

1accessory, or complete component, the warrantor shall reimburse the dealer the cost
2of freight to return the part, accessory, or component.
SB225-SSA1,16,7 3(4) Warranty audits of dealer records may be conducted by the warrantor on
4a reasonable basis, and dealer claims for warranty compensation may not be denied
5except for cause, including performance of nonwarranty repairs, material
6noncompliance with the warrantor's published policies and procedures, lack of
7material documentation, fraud, or misrepresentation.
SB225-SSA1,16,9 8(5) A dealer shall submit warranty claims within 45 days after completing
9work.
SB225-SSA1,16,12 10(6) A dealer shall notify the warrantor as soon as is reasonably possible,
11verbally or in writing, if the dealer is unable or unwilling to perform material or
12repetitive warranty repairs.
SB225-SSA1,16,16 13(7) A warrantor shall disapprove warranty claims in writing within 45 days
14after the date of submission by the dealer in the manner and form prescribed by the
15warrantor. Claims not specifically disapproved in writing within 45 days shall be
16construed to be approved and must be paid within 60 days.
SB225-SSA1,16,17 17(8) No warrantor may do any of the following:
SB225-SSA1,16,1918 (a) Fail to perform any of its warranty obligations with respect to its warranted
19products.
SB225-SSA1,17,220 (b) Fail to include, in written notices of factory campaigns to recreational
21vehicle owners and dealers, the expected date by which necessary parts and
22equipment, including tires and chassis or chassis parts, will be available to dealers
23to perform the factory campaign work. A warrantor may ship parts to the dealer to
24affect the factory campaign work, and, if parts provided are in excess of the dealer's

1requirements, the dealer may return unused parts to the warrantor for credit after
2completion of the campaign.
SB225-SSA1,17,53 (c) Fail to compensate any of its dealers for authorized repairs effected by the
4dealer of merchandise damaged in manufacture or transit to the dealer if the carrier
5is designated by the warrantor, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch.
SB225-SSA1,17,86 (d) Fail to compensate any of its dealers for authorized warranty service in
7accordance with the time allowances set forth in the schedule of compensation under
8sub. (1) (c) if performed in a timely and competent manner.
SB225-SSA1,17,119 (e) Intentionally misrepresent in any way to purchasers of recreational
10vehicles that warranties with respect to the manufacture, performance, or design of
11the vehicle are made by the dealer as warrantor or co-warrantor.
SB225-SSA1,17,1312 (f) Require the dealer to make warranties to customers in any manner related
13to the manufacture of the recreational vehicle.
SB225-SSA1,17,14 14(9) No dealer may do any of the following:
SB225-SSA1,17,1615 (a) Fail to perform predelivery inspection functions, as specified by the
16warrantor, in a competent and timely manner.
SB225-SSA1,17,2017 (b) Fail to perform warranty service work authorized by the warrantor in a
18reasonably competent and timely manner on any transient customer's vehicle of the
19same line-make unless the dealer determines that the customer is acting in a
20manner detrimental to its business.
SB225-SSA1,17,2221 (c) Fail to track actual time expended to perform warranty work not governed
22by time allowances in the schedule of compensation under sub. (1) (c).
SB225-SSA1,17,2323 (d) Claim an agency relationship with the warrantor or manufacturer.
SB225-SSA1,17,2424 (e) Misrepresent the terms of any warranty.
SB225-SSA1,18,2
1(10) Notwithstanding the terms of any dealer agreement, all of the following
2apply:
SB225-SSA1,18,113 (a) A warrantor shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless its dealer against
4any losses or damages to the extent such losses or damages are caused by the
5negligence or willful misconduct of the warrantor. A dealer may not be denied
6indemnification or a defense for failing to discover, disclose, or remedy a defect in the
7design or manufacturing of the recreational vehicle. A dealer shall provide to the
8warrantor a copy of any suit in which allegations are made under this section within
910 days after receiving the suit. This paragraph shall continue to apply even after
10the recreational vehicle is titled. Indemnification shall include court costs,
11reasonable attorney fees, and expert witness fees incurred by the dealer.
SB225-SSA1,18,1812 (b) A dealer shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless its warrantor against
13any losses or damages to the extent such losses or damages are caused by the
14negligence or willful misconduct of the dealer. The warrantor shall provide to the
15dealer a copy of any suit in which allegations are made under this section within 10
16days after receiving the suit. This paragraph shall continue to apply even after the
17recreational vehicle is titled. Indemnification must include court costs, reasonable
18attorney fees, and expert witness fees incurred by the warrantor.
SB225-SSA1,28 19Section 28. 218.165 of the statutes is created to read:
SB225-SSA1,18,25 20218.165 Inspection of recreational vehicles. (1) Whenever a new
21recreational vehicle is damaged prior to transit to the dealer or is damaged in transit
22to the dealer when the carrier or means of transportation has been selected by the
23manufacturer or distributor, the dealer shall notify the manufacturer or distributor
24of the damage within the time frame specified in the dealer agreement and do any
25of the following:
SB225-SSA1,19,2
1(a) Request from the manufacturer or distributor authorization to replace the
2components, parts, and accessories damaged or otherwise correct the damage.
SB225-SSA1,19,33 (b) Reject the vehicle within the time frame set forth in sub. (4).
SB225-SSA1,19,7 4(2) If a manufacturer or distributor refuses or fails to authorize repair of
5damage described under sub. (1) within 10 days after receipt of notification under
6sub. (1) or if the dealer rejects the recreational vehicle because of damage, ownership
7of the new recreational vehicle reverts to the manufacturer or distributor.
SB225-SSA1,19,10 8(3) A dealer shall exercise due care in custody of a damaged recreational
9vehicle, but the dealer shall have no other obligations, financial or otherwise, with
10respect to that recreational vehicle.
SB225-SSA1,19,13 11(4) The time frame for inspection and rejection by the dealer shall be part of
12the dealer agreement and may not be less than 2 business days after the physical
13delivery of the recreational vehicle.
SB225-SSA1,29 14Section 29. 218.166 of the statutes is created to read:
SB225-SSA1,19,18 15218.166 Coercion. (1) In this section, “coerce” includes threatening to
16terminate, cancel, or not renew a dealer agreement without good cause or
17threatening to withhold product lines or delay product delivery as an inducement to
18amending the dealer agreement.
SB225-SSA1,19,20 19(2) A manufacturer or distributor may not coerce or attempt to coerce a dealer
20to do any of the following:
SB225-SSA1,19,2121 (a) Purchase a product that the dealer did not order.
SB225-SSA1,19,2222 (b) Enter into an agreement with the manufacturer or distributor.
SB225-SSA1,19,2323 (c) Take any action that is unfair or unreasonable to the dealer.
SB225-SSA1,20,3
1(d) Enter into an agreement that requires the dealer to submit its disputes to
2binding arbitration or otherwise waive rights or responsibilities provided under this
3subchapter.
SB225-SSA1,20,54 (e) Forego exercising a right authorized by a dealer agreement or any law
5governing the manufacturer-dealer relationship.
SB225-SSA1,20,7 6(3) A dealer bears the burden of proof regarding the prohibited acts described
7in sub. (2).
SB225-SSA1,30 8Section 30. 218.167 of the statutes is created to read:
SB225-SSA1,20,16 9218.167 Dispute resolution. (1) A dealer, manufacturer, distributor, or
10warrantor injured by a violation of this subchapter by another dealer, manufacturer,
11distributor, or warrantor may bring a civil action in circuit court to recover actual
12damages. The court shall award attorney fees and costs to the prevailing party in
13an action under this section. Venue for any civil action authorized by this section
14shall be exclusively in the county in which the dealership is located. In an action
15involving more than one dealer, venue may be in any county in which a dealer who
16is party to the action is located.
SB225-SSA1,20,19 17(2) (a) Before bringing suit under this section, the party bringing suit for an
18alleged violation shall serve a written demand for mediation upon the offending
19party. This paragraph does not apply to a proceeding for injunctive relief.
SB225-SSA1,20,2520 (b) A demand for mediation under this subsection shall be served upon the
21offending party by certified mail at the address stated within the dealer agreement
22between the parties or, if the address is not contained in the agreement or the address
23is no longer valid, the address on the offending party's license filed with this state.
24In the event of a civil action between 2 dealers, the demand shall be mailed to the
25address on the dealer's license filed with this state.
SB225-SSA1,21,2
1(c) A demand for mediation under this subsection shall contain a brief
2statement of the dispute and the relief sought by the party filing the demand.
SB225-SSA1,21,83 (d) Within 20 days after the date a demand for mediation is served under par.
4(b), the parties shall mutually select an independent mediator and meet with the
5mediator for the purpose of attempting to resolve the dispute. The meeting place
6shall be in this state in a location selected by the mediator. The mediator may extend
7the date of the meeting for good cause shown by either party or upon stipulation of
8both parties.
SB225-SSA1,21,189 (e) The service of a demand for mediation under this subsection stays the time
10for the filing of any complaint, petition, protest, or action under this subchapter until
11representatives of both parties have met with a mutually selected mediator for the
12purpose of attempting to resolve the dispute. If a complaint, petition, protest, or
13action is filed before that meeting, the court shall enter an order suspending the
14proceeding or action until the meeting has occurred and may, upon written
15stipulation of all parties to the proceeding or action that they wish to continue to
16mediate under this subsection, enter an order suspending the proceeding or action
17for as long a period as the court considers appropriate. A suspension order issued
18under this paragraph may be revoked by the court.
SB225-SSA1,21,2019 (f) The parties to a mediation under this subsection shall bear their own costs
20for attorney fees and divide equally the cost of the mediator.
SB225-SSA1,22,5 21(3) In addition to the remedies provided in this section, and notwithstanding
22the existence of any additional remedy at law, a dealer or manufacturer may apply
23to a circuit court for the grant, upon a hearing and for cause shown, of a temporary
24or permanent injunction, or both, restraining any person from acting as a dealer,
25manufacturer, or distributor without being properly licensed under this chapter,

1from violating or continuing to violate any of the provisions of this subchapter, or
2from failing or refusing to comply with the requirements of this subchapter. An
3injunction under this subsection shall be issued without bond. A single act in
4violation of any of the provisions of this subchapter is sufficient to authorize the
5issuance of an injunction.
SB225-SSA1,31 6Section 31. 340.01 (6m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB225-SSA1,22,107 340.01 (6m) “Camping trailer" means a vehicle with a collapsible or folding
8structure designed for human habitation and to provide temporary living quarters
9for recreation, camping, or travel use and to be
towed upon a highway by a motor
10vehicle.
SB225-SSA1,32 11Section 32. 340.01 (18m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB225-SSA1,22,1812 340.01 (18m) “Fifth-wheel recreational vehicle" means a recreational vehicle
13that is towed by a vehicle with a flatbed frame so the trailer hitch of the recreational
14vehicle is bolted to the flatbed frame of the towing vehicle
that is mounted on wheels,
15that is of a size and weight such that a special highway movement permit is not
16required, and that is designed to be towed by a motor vehicle utilizing a king pin and
17fifth wheel coupling device mounted above or forward of the rear axle of the tow
18vehicle
.
SB225-SSA1,33 19Section 33. 340.01 (48r) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB225-SSA1,23,220 340.01 (48r) “Recreational vehicle" means a vehicle that is designed to be
21towed upon a highway by a motor vehicle, that is equipped and used, or intended to
22be used, primarily for temporary or recreational human habitation, that has walls
23of rigid construction,
and that does not exceed 45 46 feet in length. “Recreational
24vehicle” includes a camping trailer, fifth-wheel recreational vehicle, park model

1recreational vehicle, as defined in s. 218.10 (7m), and travel trailer, as defined in s.
2218.10 (8v).
SB225-SSA1,34 3Section 34. 341.25 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB225-SSA1,23,54 341.25 (1) (i) For each recreational vehicle, and for each camping trailer, a fee
5of $15.
SB225-SSA1,35 6Section 35. 348.07 (2) (L) of the statutes is created to read:
SB225-SSA1,23,77 348.07 (2) (L) Forty-six feet for a towed recreational vehicle.
SB225-SSA1,36 8Section 36. 348.08 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB225-SSA1,23,209 348.08 (1) (i) A 3-vehicle combination consisting of a towing vehicle and, in
10order by weight, with the lighter of the towed vehicles as the 3rd vehicle in the
113-vehicle combination unless not structurally possible, a recreational vehicle or
12camping trailer
as the 2nd vehicle, and a recreational vehicle , camping trailer, or
13trailer carrying any vehicle for recreational use or carrying no load as the 3rd vehicle
14may, without a permit, be operated on a highway if the overall length of the
15combination of vehicles does not exceed 65 feet and, if the total weight, including any
16load, of all towed vehicles exceeds 3,000 pounds, one of the towed vehicles is equipped
17with brakes. No 3-vehicle combination may operate under this paragraph if
18highway or weather conditions include heavy snow, freezing rain, icy roads, high
19winds, limited visibility, or upon a highway that is closed or partially closed by the
20department due to highway conditions.
SB225-SSA1,37 21Section 37. 348.08 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB225-SSA1,24,1022 348.08 (1) (j) A 3-vehicle combination not exceeding 70 feet in overall length
23may, without a permit, be operated on a highway if the towing vehicle serving as the
24power unit is equipped with a 5th wheel and kingpin connection by which the 2nd
25vehicle in the 3-vehicle combination is drawn, the 2nd vehicle in the 3-vehicle

1combination is a recreational vehicle or camping trailer, including any combination
2camping-horse trailer, the 3rd vehicle in the 3-vehicle combination is a recreational
3vehicle or camping trailer or a trailer carrying any vehicle for recreational use,
4carrying equestrian equipment and equestrian supplies for recreational purposes,
5or carrying no load, and, if the total weight, including any load, of all towed vehicles
6exceeds 3,000 pounds, one of the towed vehicles is equipped with brakes. No
73-vehicle combination may operate under this paragraph if highway or weather
8conditions include heavy snow, freezing rain, icy roads, high winds, limited visibility,
9or upon a highway that is closed or partially closed by the department due to highway
10conditions.
SB225-SSA1,38 11Section 38. Effective date.
SB225-SSA1,24,13 12(1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after
13publication.
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