AB 502 Wisconsin Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: outdoor advertising signs that do not conform to local ordinances and that are affected by certain transportation-related projects; compensation for takings of signs, and appraisals upon which jurisdictional offers are based. (FE)

AB 502 establishes compensation rules for outdoor advertising signs affected by highway projects. It requires state agencies to provide detailed appraisals (within 85-115% of the offered value) and specifies separate payments for sign owners (covering sign value and related losses) and property owners (for lost rights to erect signs). Nonconforming signs (those not meeting local rules) can be repositioned without losing their status, as long as size and visibility remain similar. This directly affects sign owners, local governments, and state transportation departments involved in highway construction.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Assembly Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Vetoed
Apr 2026
Introduced Oct 9, 2025 Vetoed Apr 8, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text Text as Enrolled · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Wisconsin laws regarding outdoor advertising signs that do not meet local rules but are affected by transportation projects. It expands the types of projects covered to include any state or local transportation project using state or federal funds, not just highway projects. The law now requires agencies to pay sign owners for the actual costs to reposition signs rather than just relocating them on the same spot. It also bans the use of the 'unit rule' in condemnation cases, ensuring owners receive compensation for the loss of value to their other signs and the right to erect signs in the future.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of covered projects from only highway projects to include any state or local transportation project that receives state or federal funding.
SCOPE

Expanded the definition of covered projects to include any state or local transportation project with state or federal funds, rather than limiting it to highway projects.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that the agency must pay the sign owner the actual costs incurred to reposition the sign (raising, lowering, rotating, or moving it), replacing the previous requirement to only pay for relocation on the same site.

Added specific requirements for compensation, ensuring owners receive payment for the value of the sign, loss of value to other signs, and the loss of the right to erect and maintain the sign.

Added a restriction on appraisals used for jurisdictional offers, prohibiting the use of appraisals that value the owner's loss at less than 85% or more than 115% of the jurisdictional offer amount.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'realignment' to 'reposition,' which now includes moving the sign to a different location, not just relocating it on the same site.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the allowance for using the 'unit rule' in condemnation cases, which previously limited compensation to the fair market value of the property as a whole.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Apr 8, 2026
Vetoed
Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-8-2026
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Jan 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 1-15-2026 by Committee on Rules
lower
Dec 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Dec 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation, Ayes 4, Noes 2
lower
Oct 9, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Goeben, O'Connor, Doyle, B. Jacobson, Kreibich, Melotik, Mursau, Penterman, Spiros, Murphy and Brill; cosponsored by Senators Feyen, Nass and Wanggaard
lower
11 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors