Proposed Change to the Managed Forest Law Program

Yesterday, February 7, 2024, Wisconsin Senate Bill 999, was read into the record for the first time and referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage.

The Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau states:  This bill provides that the owner of open managed forest land (MFL) with roads or trails that are maintained for vehicular travel must permit public access to the roads and trails for the operation of certain vehicles. The bill also requires the Department of Transportation to administer an MFL road repair program, under which DOT awards grants to individual owners of MFL where roads or trails have been damaged by vehicles.

Under the current Managed Forest Law program, owners with land designated as Open under the MFL program must open the MFL land to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, and cross-country skiing.

This proposed bill is a significant change and taking of private property for other uses not currently in the law or MFL contracts. Under the proposed bill, the owner of open MFL with roads or trails that are maintained for vehicular travel at a width of at least nine feet must permit public access to the roads and trails for the operation of any noncommercial motor vehicle with a gross weight of 8,000 pounds or less and any all-terrain vehicle, utility terrain vehicle, or snowmobile registered for public use or operated by a nonresident as authorized by a trail pass or trail use sticker.

Members are encouraged to read SB999 and send their comments to their Wisconsin legislators (find your legislator), sponsors of this bill Senators FELZKOWSKI of Tomahawk, QUINN of Cameron and STAFSHOLT of New Richmond, cosponsored by Representatives GREEN of Grand View and SCHMIDT of Bonduel. Please share a copy of your comments with WWOA.