OHI and the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO) announced that Wisconsin Senate Bill 576 is advancing with significant legislative support.
The bill seeks to clarify that personal property owned by seasonal campers is “exempt from real property tax.”
This progress follows strong testimony delivered by campground owners and operators before the Senate Committee.
According to a press release, Representative Kevin Petersen and Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara introduced the legislation to address ambiguities in current tax law.
The primary goal of SB576 is to align current statutes with the legislative intent behind the recent repeal of the personal property tax.
Effective in 2024, Act 12 permanently exempted most personal property from taxation.
However, clarification was required to ensure seasonal camper property located within licensed campgrounds received the same treatment.
Without this bill, the interaction between Act 12 and existing codes could create unintended tax liabilities for operators.
“At this stage in the process, no grassroots action is required. Should complications arise later, OHI and WACO may call on campground owners and seasonal campers again to voice support. For now, the focus remains on coordinated legislative engagement,” the press release adds.
OHI and WACO addressed the successful hearing in a joint statement regarding the operator participation.
“Campground operators showed up and spoke clearly about the unintended tax impacts created by the repeal of personal property tax under Act 12,” the announcement states. “Their testimony was well received, and the bill is moving. We look forward to continuing collaboration with Rep. Petersen and Sen. Cabral-Guevara as SB576 advances.”