WisconsinMeasure would restrict some foreign-linked owners from holding Wisconsin land
The failed measure would restrict certain foreign-linked people and organizations from holding Wisconsin real estate and bar condemnation for wind or solar projects.
What it does
People and organizations defined as foreign principals may not acquire, own, or hold Wisconsin real estate, directly or through others. The definition depends in part on a federal list of foreign adversaries.
A person found to be a foreign principal after the effective date would have up to 180 days from that determination to give up property interests held in violation of the ban.
A real estate interest acquired, owned, or held in violation of the section would be forfeited to Wisconsin.
Government could not use condemnation to acquire property for developing or helping operate a wind or solar energy facility.
Argument forThe restriction could keep listed foreign governments and connected people or organizations from holding Wisconsin property, including through indirect ownership.
Argument againstOwners could lose property interests to the state if they violate the ban, even though some people found to be foreign principals get 180 days to give up those interests.
More detail
A foreign principal may not acquire, own, or hold any interest in Wisconsin real property, directly or indirectly. The definition includes listed foreign governments and officials, certain individuals without permanent-resident status or a valid visa, certain businesses and investment funds, entities with at least 50 percent foreign ownership or control, and their agents. A country or other listed party counts as a foreign adversary only while included on the federal list named in the text. The ban applies only to people and organizations meeting the stated definitions. The ban applies to property interests acquired on or after the section’s effective date, which is left blank in the enrolled text.
A person determined to be a foreign principal after the effective date must give up property interests held in violation of the ban. It covers people determined to be foreign principals after the section takes effect. The rule applies only to interests held in violation of the ban. The 180-day period starts on the date of the determination. Property acquired before the effective date is not subject to divestiture under this section.
An interest in real property held in violation of the section is forfeited to the state. This applies to real property interests covered by the section. Only interests acquired, owned, or held in violation of the section are covered. The section applies to interests acquired on or after its effective date, which is left blank in the enrolled text. Earlier interests are not subject to forfeiture under this section.
Property may not be acquired through condemnation to develop or help operate a wind or solar energy facility. The restriction covers condemnation to develop or help operate wind and solar energy facilities.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Mar 20Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 3-20-2026Major
- Mar 18Presented to the Governor on 3-18-2026To Governor
- Feb 23Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Feb 18Action ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 18Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in
- Feb 17Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 22Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE AS AMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 22Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 22Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 55, Noes 42Passed House
- Jan 22Rules suspended
- Jan 22Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jan 22Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Jan 22Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative PentermanMinor
- Jan 22Read a second timeMinor
- Jan 22Rules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up
- Jan 22Read
- Jan 22Received from SenateMinor
- Jan 21Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 21Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15Passed Senate
- Jan 21Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Jan 21Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jan 21Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Jan 21Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15Minor
- Jan 21Read a second timeMinor
- Jan 21Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Pfaff, Spreitzer, Keyeski, Smith, Hesselbein, Larson, L. Johnson, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Dassler-Alfheim, Wall, Ratcliff, Wirch and RoysMinor
- Jan 16Placed on calendar 1-21-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 14Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 5, Noes 3. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 5, Noes 3. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 14Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 5, Noes 3Minor
- Jan 14Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 5, Noes 3Major
- Jan 14Executive action taken
- Jan 8Representative Brown withdrawn as a cosponsorMajor
- 2025
- Jun 4Public hearing held
- Apr 25Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator JacqueMinor
- Jan 24Read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture and RevenueMinor
- Jan 24Introduced by Senators Jacque, Cabral-Guevara and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Penterman, Behnke, Allen, Armstrong, Brill, Brown, Dittrich, Goeben, Green, B. Jacobson, Kreibich, Maxey, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Sortwell, Steffen, Wichgers and TuslerIntroduced
National SecurityEnvironment & Energy