An Act to create 27.01 (9) (b) of the statutes; Relating to: waiver of fees for admission to state parks on Earth Day. (FE)
Summary
AB267 would require the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to waive any daily admission fee for state park entry on April 22 of each year, in recognition of Earth Day and its founder, Gaylord Nelson. The waiver would apply to daily park admission fees and any associated issuing fee for that date only. The bill does not change annual park pass pricing or broader park admission policy; it creates a one-day annual fee exemption tied to Earth Day.
The measure is a narrow statutory change to Wisconsin’s state park admission fee provisions in chapter 27 of the statutes. It directs DNR to provide the fee waiver each year on April 22, rather than leaving the decision to agency discretion. The bill was introduced in the 2025-2026 Legislature and ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.
Impact
If enacted, AB267 would amend Wisconsin statutes by creating s. 27.01 (9) (b), requiring the Department of Natural Resources to waive daily state park admission fees, including issuing fees, on Earth Day each year. The practical effect would be reduced fee revenue for the state on that date and free access to state parks for visitors who would otherwise pay a daily admission charge. The bill would affect DNR park operations, park visitors, and state fiscal receipts tied to daily admissions.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally positive, symbolic support for the bill’s Earth Day theme, reflected in its broad list of bipartisan cosponsors. The bill appears to have been framed as a modest public-access and environmental commemoration measure rather than a major policy change. However, it did not advance to enactment and ultimately failed to pass, indicating that support was not sufficient to secure final legislative approval.
Contention
No committee transcript or recorded vote information is available, so specific objections are not documented in the provided materials. The likely points of contention would have been the fiscal impact of waiving admission revenue and whether the state should mandate a fee waiver rather than leave such decisions to DNR discretion. Any opposition would most likely have centered on lost revenue or the precedent of creating date-specific statutory exemptions, while supporters would emphasize public access, environmental symbolism, and honoring Gaylord Nelson.
Urging The Congress Of The United States To Continue To Provide Funding And Support To The Ukrainian Military In Its Defense Of Aggression From Russia.
Urging The Congress Of The United States To Continue To Provide Funding And Support To The Ukrainian Military In Its Defense Of Aggression From Russia.
Expressing Support For The Kamehameha Schools Admissions Policy And Urging The Hawaii Attorney General To Submit An Amicus Curiae Brief To Defend The Admissions Policy In Any Future Lawsuit.
Expressing Support For The Kamehameha Schools Admissions Policy And Urging The Hawaii Attorney General To Submit An Amicus Curiae Brief To Defend The Admissions Policy In Any Future Lawsuit.