Relating to: the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program and a major land acquisitions program. (FE)
AB 315 modifies grant rules for Wisconsin's Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship program and land conservation efforts. It creates new provisions requiring governmental units and nonprofits to apply for funding *before* purchasing land to qualify for up to 50% of acquisition costs (reduced to 40% if applying after purchase). The bill maintains a 30% cap on additional costs covered by grants or in-kind contributions. These changes directly affect local governments and conservation groups seeking state funds to acquire land for parks, recreation, or conservation. The bill does not create new funding but adjusts eligibility and percentage limits for existing programs.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Assembly Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jun 9, 2025
Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes · Assembly Jan 22, 2026
How they voted
52–45
Passed
Total votes 97
Jan 22, 2026
D
Democratic45
100% Nay
R
Republican52
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
30
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
9
Mar 23, 2026
Amended
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Testin
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 44
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 adopted
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Amended
Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 53, Noes 44
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Miresse
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 1-22-2026 by Committee on Rules
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Kurtz
lower
Nov 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Nov 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report without recommendation (Assembly Rule 19) by Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Ayes 6, Noes 6
lower
Nov 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Ayes 7, Noes 5
lower
Nov 11, 2025
Introduced
LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1)
lower
Nov 11, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Miresse
lower
Nov 10, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Kurtz
lower
Jun 9, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Kurtz, Novak, Franklin, Kaufert, Armstrong, Behnke, Born, Dittrich, Duchow, Kitchens, Kreibich, Krug, Mursau, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Sortwell, Tittl, Tranel, VanderMeer, Tusler and Steffen;
cosponsored by Senators Testin, Cabral-Guevara, James and Quinn
lower
21 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Barbara Dittrich
RRepublican
P
Ben Franklin
RRepublican
P
Cindi Duchow
RRepublican
P
Dave Armstrong
RRepublican
P
David Steffen
RRepublican
P
Dean Kaufert
RRepublican
P
Elijah Behnke
RRepublican
P
Jeff Mursau
RRepublican
P
Jerry O'Connor
RRepublican
P
Jim Piwowarczyk
RRepublican
P
Joel Kitchens
RRepublican
P
Mark Born
RRepublican
P
Nancy VanderMeer
RRepublican
P
Paul Tittl
RRepublican
P
Rob Kreibich
RRepublican
P
Ron Tusler
RRepublican
P
Scott Krug
RRepublican
P
Shae Sortwell
RRepublican
P
Todd Novak
RRepublican
P
Tony Kurtz
RRepublican
P
Travis Tranel
RRepublican
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