Under current law, a landowner must submit with the MFL application a
management plan that contains a statement of the owner's forest management
objectives, a description of the forestry and soil conservation practices that will be
undertaken on the MFL, and supporting maps, aerial photographs, or diagrams.
Under the substitute amendment, DNR may modify these general requirements for
management plans that are prepared for large properties. In determining whether
to do so, DNR must consider certain factors. These factors include how much MFL
the applicant already owns and whether the applicant has consistent access to
technical forest management assistance.
Other provisions
This substitute amendment creates a provision that allows an owner of MFL
that has been damaged by a natural disaster to restore the productivity of the land
so that it meets the requirements under the MFL for producing merchantable timber.
DNR determines the amount of time that the owner will have to restore the land.
If the owner fails to complete the restoration within that time period, either DNR
may order withdrawal of the land or the owner of the land may request withdrawal
of the land. The owner is exempt from payment of withdrawal taxes if the owner
makes the request and DNR determines that the MFL is unable to meet the
production requirements for merchantable timber and if the owner withdraws only
the number of acres necessary for the parcel to again meet the production
requirements.

The substitute amendment provides funding for grants that are awarded to
nonprofit conservation organizations and counties, cities, towns, and villages to
acquire land to be used for hunting, fishing, hiking, sightseeing, and cross-country
skiing.
Under current law, DNR must prepare management plans if DNR determines
that an owner submitting an application to have land designated as MFL is unable
to have a management plan prepared by an independent plan writer who is certified
by DNR but who is not acting on behalf of DNR. Also, DNR may complete a plan if
it does not initially meet DNR's approval. Under current law, DNR charges fees for
preparing and completing plans. This substitute amendment repeals all of the
provisions relating to DNR's preparation and completion of plans.
Under current law, DNR must issue a withdrawal order removing all lands
owned by an Indian tribe from the MFL program if requested to do so by the tribe and
if the tribe provides DNR with the date on which the MFL will be transferred to the
federal government to be held in trust for the tribe and if the tribe and DNR have in
effect a written agreement that the land will continue to be treated as MFL until the
date that the MFL order would have expired. This substitute amendment creates
a parallel provision for withdrawals from the FCL program.
Current law also requires DNR to pay each town treasurer 30 cents per acre of
land in that town that is designated as county forest land. This substitute
amendment increases those payments to 55 cents per acre beginning with payments
made in 2014 for land designated as county forest land as of June 30, 2013.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB700-ASA1,1 1Section 1. 20.370 (1) (cx) of the statutes is repealed.
AB700-ASA1,2 2Section 2. 20.370 (5) (bv) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,8,63 20.370 (5) (bv) Resource aids — county forests, forest croplands and managed
4forest land aids.
A sum sufficient to pay county forest aids under s. 28.11 (8) (a),
5forest croplands cropland aids under subch. I of ch. 77 and managed forest land aids
6under ss. s. 77.85 and 77.89 (1).
AB700-ASA1,3 7Section 3. 20.370 (5) (bz) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,9,28 20.370 (5) (bz) Resource aids — forestry outdoor activity grants. As a
9continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for
A sum sufficient to award

1grants awarded by the managed forest land board under s. 77.895. No moneys may
2be encumbered from this appropriation before July 1, 2015.
AB700-ASA1,4 3Section 4. 28.11 (8) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 28.11 (8) (a) 1. and
4amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,9,105 28.11 (8) (a) 1. As Except as provided in subd. 2., as soon after April 20 of each
6year as feasible, the department shall pay to each town treasurer 30 cents per acre,
7based on the acreage of such lands as of the preceding June 30, as a grant out of the
8appropriation made by s. 20.370 (5) (bv) on each acre of county lands entered under
9this section. This subdivision does not apply to payments required to be paid by the
10department after 2013.
AB700-ASA1,5 11Section 5. 28.11 (8) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB700-ASA1,9,1612 28.11 (8) (a) 2. As soon after April 20, 2014, as feasible, and as soon after April
1320 of each year thereafter as feasible, the department shall pay to each town
14treasurer 55 cents per acre, based on the acreage of such lands as of the preceding
15June 30, as a grant out of the appropriation made by s. 20.370 (5) (bv) on each acre
16of county lands entered under this section.
AB700-ASA1,6 17Section 6. 74.23 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,9,2118 74.23 (1) (a) 2. Pay to the proper treasurer all collections of special
19assessments, special charges and special taxes, except that occupational taxes under
20ss. 70.40 to 70.421 and forest cropland, woodland and managed forest land taxes
21under ch. 77 shall be settled for under s. 74.25 (1) (a) 1. to 8.
AB700-ASA1,7 22Section 7. 74.25 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,9,2423 74.25 (1) (a) 2. Pay to the proper treasurer all collections of special
24assessments, special charges and special taxes, except that occupational taxes under

1ss. 70.40 to 70.421 and forest cropland, woodland and managed forest land taxes
2under ch. 77 shall be settled for under subds. 5. to 8.
AB700-ASA1,8 3Section 8. 74.25 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,10,74 74.25 (1) (a) 3. Retain all collections of special assessments, special charges and
5special taxes due to the taxation district, except that occupational taxes under ss.
670.40 to 70.421 and forest cropland, woodland and managed forest land taxes under
7ch. 77 shall be settled for under subds. 5. to 8.
AB700-ASA1,9 8Section 9. 74.30 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,10,129 74.30 (1) (b) Pay to the proper treasurer all collections of special assessments,
10special charges and special taxes, except that occupational taxes under ss. 70.40 to
1170.421 and forest cropland, woodland and managed forest land taxes under ch. 77
12shall be settled for under pars. (e) to (h).
AB700-ASA1,10 13Section 10. 74.30 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,10,1714 74.30 (1) (c) Retain all collections of special assessments, special charges and
15special taxes due to the taxation district, except that occupational taxes under ss.
1670.40 to 70.421 and forest cropland, woodland and managed forest land taxes under
17ch. 77 shall be settled for under pars. (e) to (h).
AB700-ASA1,11 18Section 11. 77.06 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 77.06 (1) (a) and amended
19to read:
AB700-ASA1,11,220 77.06 (1) (a) No Except as provided in par. (b), no person shall cut any
21merchantable wood products on any forest croplands where the forest crop cropland
22taxes are delinquent nor until 30 days after the owner has filed with the department
23of natural resources a notice of intention to cut, specifying by descriptions and the
24estimated amount of wood products to be removed and the proportion of present
25volume to be left as growing stock in the area to be cut. The owner of a large property,

1as defined in s. 77.81 (2r), does not have to file a notice of intention to cut if all of the
2requirements under s. 77.86 (4m) (a) have been met.
AB700-ASA1,11,8 3(b) The department of natural resources may require a bond executed by some
4surety company licensed in this state or other surety for such amount as may
5reasonably be required for the payment to the department of natural resources of the
6severance tax hereinafter provided prescribed in sub. (5). The department, after
7examination of the lands specified, may prescribe the amount of forest products to
8be removed.
AB700-ASA1,11,11 9(c) Cutting in excess of the amount prescribed shall render the owner liable to
10double the severance tax prescribed in s. 77.06 sub. (5) and subject to cancellation
11under s. 77.10.
AB700-ASA1,11,13 12(d) Merchantable wood products include all wood products except wood used
13for fuel by the owner.
AB700-ASA1,12 14Section 12. 77.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,11,2315 77.07 (2) Penalty, collections. If any severance tax remain remains unpaid
16for 30 days after it becomes due, there shall then be added a penalty of 10 percent,
17and such tax and penalty shall thereafter draw interest at the rate of one percent per
18month until paid. At the expiration of said 30 days the department of natural
19resources shall report to the attorney general any unpaid severance tax, adding said
20penalty, and the attorney general shall thereupon proceed to collect the same with
21penalty and interest by suit against the owner and by attachment or other legal
22means to enforce the lien and by action on the bond mentioned in s. 77.06 (1) (b), or
23by any or all such means.
AB700-ASA1,13 24Section 13. 77.07 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,12,6
177.07 (3) Distribution of severance tax. All severance taxes collected under
2this subchapter shall be distributed as follows: The state shall retain an amount
3equal to the total acreage payments on the lands to which the severance taxes relate,
4made by the state under s. 77.05, and all penalties imposed under sub. (2) and s. 77.06
5(1) (c), and the balance shall be paid to the town treasurer to be apportioned as
6provided in s. 77.04 (3).
AB700-ASA1,14 7Section 14. 77.10 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB700-ASA1,12,118 77.10 (2) (d) Upon request of an Indian tribe, the department shall issue an
9order of withdrawal for the land that is owned in fee and that is subject to a contract
10under s. 77.03. The land withdrawn is not subjected to the tax payment calculated
11under par. (a) if all of the following apply:
AB700-ASA1,12,1312 1. The Indian tribe provides the department the date of the order to transfer
13the land to the United States to be held in trust for the tribe.
AB700-ASA1,12,1614 2. The tribe and the department have in effect a written agreement under
15which the tribe agrees that the land shall continue to be treated as forest croplands
16until the date on which the contract under s. 77.03 would have expired.
AB700-ASA1,15 17Section 15. 77.81 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 77.81 (1j).
AB700-ASA1,16 18Section 16. 77.81 (1d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB700-ASA1,12,2119 77.81 (1d) "Building" includes any structure used for sheltering people,
20machinery, animals, or plants; used for storing property; used for parking, sales, or
21display space; or used as a place of employment.
AB700-ASA1,17 22Section 17. 77.81 (2m) of the statutes is renumbered 77.81 (1g) and amended
23to read:
AB700-ASA1,13,3
177.81 (1g) "Independent certified Certified plan writer" means a plan writer
2certified by the department but who is not acting under contract with the department
3under s. 77.82 (3) (g).
AB700-ASA1,18 4Section 18. 77.81 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB700-ASA1,13,75 77.81 (2r) "Large property" means one or more separate parcels of land that
6are under the same ownership, that collectively are greater than 1,000 acres in size,
7and that are managed forest land or forest croplands or a combination thereof.
AB700-ASA1,19 8Section 19. 77.81 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB700-ASA1,13,109 77.81 (4m) "Natural disaster" means fire, ice, snow, wind, flooding, insects, or
10disease.
AB700-ASA1,20 11Section 20. 77.81 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
AB700-ASA1,21 12Section 21. 77.81 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,13,1613 77.81 (6) "Recreational activities" include means recreational outdoor
14activities that are compatible with the practice of forestry, as determined by the
15department. "Recreational activities" includes
hunting, fishing, hiking,
16sight-seeing, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and staying in cabins.
AB700-ASA1,22 17Section 22. 77.82 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,13,2018 77.82 (1) (a) 1. It consists of at least 10 contiguous acres, except as provided in
19this subdivision. The
. This subdivision applies to applications under sub. (2), (4m),
20or (12) that are filed before June 2, 2014.
AB700-ASA1,14,2 21(am) For purposes of par. (a) 1. and 1m., the fact that a lake, river, stream or
22flowage, a public or private road or a railroad or utility right-of-way separates any
23part of the land from any other part does not render a parcel of land noncontiguous.
24If a part of a parcel of at least 10 contiguous acres is separated from another part of
25that parcel by a public road, that part of the parcel may be enrolled in the program,

1even if that part is less than 10 acres, if that part meets the requirement under subd.
22. and is not ineligible under par. (b).
AB700-ASA1,23 3Section 23. 77.82 (1) (a) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB700-ASA1,14,64 77.82 (1) (a) 1m. a. It consists of at least 15 contiguous acres. This subdivision
5applies to applications under sub. (2), (4m), or (12) that are filed on or after June 2,
62014.
AB700-ASA1,14,117 b. Notwithstanding subd. 1m. a., a parcel may be less than 15 contiguous acres
8if the application is one for renewal of an order under sub. (12), if the order has not
9been previously renewed, if the parcel is at least 10 contiguous acres, and if the owner
10has complied with the management plan that applies to the parcel throughout the
11term of the order.
AB700-ASA1,24 12Section 24. 77.82 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,14,1513 77.82 (1) (a) 2. At least 80% of the parcel must be producing or capable of
14producing a minimum of 20 cubic feet of merchantable timber per acre per year,
15except as provided in s. 77.88 (2m)
.
AB700-ASA1,25 16Section 25. 77.82 (1) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,14,1817 77.82 (1) (b) 3. A parcel that is developed for a human residence on which a
18building or an improvement associated with a building is located
.
AB700-ASA1,26 19Section 26. 77.82 (1) (bn) of the statutes is repealed.
AB700-ASA1,27 20Section 27. 77.82 (1) (bp) of the statutes is created to read:
AB700-ASA1,14,2221 77.82 (1) (bp) 1. For purposes of par. (b) 3., and except as provided in subd. 2.,
22an improvement is any of the following:
AB700-ASA1,14,2423 a. Any accessory building, structure, or fixture that is built or placed on the
24parcel for its benefit.
AB700-ASA1,14,2525 b. Landscaping that is done on the parcel.
AB700-ASA1,15,1
12. An improvement does not include any of the following:
AB700-ASA1,15,22 a. A public or private road.
AB700-ASA1,15,33 b. A railroad or utility right-of way.
AB700-ASA1,15,54 c. A fence, unless the fence prevents the free and open movement of wild
5animals across any portion of the parcel.
AB700-ASA1,15,66 d. Culverts.
AB700-ASA1,15,77 e. Bridges.
AB700-ASA1,15,88 em. Hunting blinds, as specified by the department by rule.
AB700-ASA1,15,109 f. Other buildings, structures, and fixtures that are needed for sound forestry
10practices as provided by the department by rule.
AB700-ASA1,28 11Section 28. 77.82 (2m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,15,1212 77.82 (2m) (title) Fees for applications and management plans.
AB700-ASA1,29 13Section 29. 77.82 (2m) (ac) of the statutes is repealed.
AB700-ASA1,30 14Section 30. 77.82 (2m) (ag) of the statutes is repealed.
AB700-ASA1,31 15Section 31. 77.82 (2m) (am) of the statutes is repealed.
AB700-ASA1,32 16Section 32. 77.82 (2m) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
AB700-ASA1,33 17Section 33. 77.82 (2m) (dm) 1. of the statutes is repealed.
AB700-ASA1,34 18Section 34. 77.82 (2m) (dm) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
AB700-ASA1,35 19Section 35. 77.82 (3) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,15,2020 77.82 (3) (title) Management plan plans.
AB700-ASA1,36 21Section 36. 77.82 (3) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB700-ASA1,15,2522 77.82 (3) (ag) A proposed management plan shall cover the entire acreage of
23each parcel subject to the application and shall be prepared by an independent a
24certified plan writer or by the department if par. (am) applies on a form provided by
25the department
.
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