Bill
AB 978
The bill would create a state hiking permit system with rule-making authority and dedicated funding to regulate access, fees, enforcement, and trail management.
AB 978 (Wisconsin, 2025 Session) – Summary
Purpose and intent
- The bill relates to hiking permits, grants rule-making authority, and makes an appropriation. In broad terms, it appears to address the management and regulation of hiking activity on state lands or designated trails, potentially authorizing a state agency to create or modify permitting requirements and to allocate funds to support related programs.
Key provisions (as described)
- Hiking permits: The bill would establish, modify, or expand requirements for obtaining permits to engage in hiking activities on specific public lands, trails, or facilities. This could include:
- Creation or adjustment of permit fees
- Eligibility criteria for permit issuance
- Processes for application, approval, renewal, and revocation
- Provisions for permit display, use limitations, and enforcement
- Rule-making authority: The bill grants or expands a rule-making authority to a state agency (likely related to natural resources, parks, or a similar department) to implement and enforce the permit system. This may involve:
- Adopting administrative rules governing permit issuance, usage, and compliance
- Establishing standards for trail access, capacity limits, safety requirements, and environmental protections
- Procedures for public notice, comment, and amendment of rules
- Appropriation: The bill includes an appropriation (i.e., a direct allocation of funds) to support the establishment, administration, and enforcement of the hiking permit program, and related activities such as education, compliance, trail maintenance, and monitoring. Details could include:
- Specific dollar amounts and fiscal years
- Authorized uses of funds (e.g., staffing, infrastructure, outreach, monitoring)
- Potential sources of funding or matching requirements
- Administrative and compliance provisions: The bill may include clarifications on how permits interact with existing land-use laws, enforcement mechanisms, penalties for non-compliance, and reporting requirements to the legislature.
Who would be affected
- Primary: Individuals and groups who hike on covered lands or trails subject to the permit regime (temporary or ongoing permits, depending on the final structure).
- Agencies: The state department or agency assigned to manage parks, forests, or recreational lands would gain rule-making authority and responsibility for implementing the permit program, enforcement, and reporting.
- Stakeholders: Trail clubs, hiking enthusiasts, tourism operators, and local communities adjacent to affected lands may be impacted by permit requirements, fees, access changes, and compliance considerations.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Introduction and referral: January 30, 2026 — introduced by Representatives Green and B. Jacobson; co-sponsored by Senators Stafsholt and Quinn; referred to the Committee on Sporting Heritage.
- Fiscal note: Fiscal estimate received January 11, 2026 (as per action history, though the date listed is March; indicates a fiscal analysis was prepared to accompany the bill).
- Floor action / outcomes: March 11, 2026 — fiscal estimate received; March 23, 2026 — failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. This indicates the bill did not advance to enactment under the status indicated and may reflect a legislative decision to adjourn or to utilize a joint resolution mechanism to dispose of the measure.
Notes and considerations
- Without the full text, details such as exact permit types, fee levels, specific agency designation, and the precise scope of the appropriation remain unspecified.
- The fiscal impact would depend on the appropriation amount, the number of permits anticipated, and the operational costs of rule-making and enforcement.
- If reintroduced or amended, the bill could address public input processes, environmental safeguards, and exemptions (e.g., for certain permit-holders or particular lands).
Overall assessment
- AB 978 proposes a framework to regulate hiking activity through a formal permit system, supported by statutory rule-making authority and a dedicated appropriation. The measure sought to balance public access with conservation, safety, and revenue/operational needs but did not advance in the session per the latest action history.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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