FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Wis. Stat. § 172.51 — WI Code / Chapter 172 / Section 172.51
Animals distrained; proceedings.
Status: in_force

(1) The owner or occupant of any lands may distrain any beast doing damage on the premises, either while upon the premises or upon immediate pursuit of the beasts escaping from the premises and before returning to the enclosure of or to the immediate care of the owner or keeper. The person distraining the beasts may keep the beasts upon the premises or in a public pound in the person’s town, city or village of residence until the person’s damages are appraised.

(2) If the owner of the beasts is known to the person distraining the beasts and resides within the same county, the person distraining the beasts shall give written notice to the owner in accordance with whichever of the following applies:

(a) If the owner resides within the same town, city or village as the person distraining the beasts, notice shall be given within 24 hours, Sundays excepted, after the animal is distrained.

(b) If the owner does not reside in the same town, city or village as the person distraining the beasts, notice shall be given within 48 hours, Sundays excepted.

(3) The notice under sub. (2) shall specify all of the following:

(a) The time when and the place where the beasts were distrained.

(b) The number of beasts distrained and the place of their detention.

(c) That at a time, which shall not be less than 12 hours after the serving of the notice nor more than 3 days after distraining the beasts, and place designated in the notice, the person distraining will apply to the town chairperson, village president or city mayor or manager of the municipality where the beasts were found for the appointment of 3 disinterested freeholders of the town, city or village to appraise the damages.

(4) If the owner of the beasts is unknown or does not reside in the same county as the person distraining the beasts, the person distraining the beasts shall, in accordance with sub. (3) (c) , apply for the appointment of appraisers without notice and within 24 hours after distraining the beasts.

(5) Upon application, the town chairperson, village president or city mayor or manager shall appoint in writing 3 disinterested freeholders of the town, city or village to appraise the damages. The appraisers shall receive 50 cents for the appointment.

History: 1989 a. 56 ; 1997 a. 192 s. 12 ; Stats. 1997 s. 172.51; 1997 a. 254 .
Wis. Stat. § 346.91 — WI Code / Chapter 346 / Section 346.91
Crossing fire hose.
Status: in_force

No person without the consent of the fire department official in command may drive a vehicle over any unprotected hose of a fire department when such hose is laid down on any street or private driveway to be used at any training exercise, scene of an emergency, or alarm of emergency.

History: 1985 a. 187 ; 2005 a. 144 .
Wis. Stat. § 342.31 — WI Code / Chapter 342 / Section 342.31
Report of stolen or abandoned motor vehicles.
Status: in_force

(1) Each sheriff and police department in the state shall immediately report to the department of justice each motor vehicle reported stolen or recovered within its jurisdiction.

(2) An owner of a garage or trailer park or of any type of storage or parking lot for motor vehicles shall report to the local law enforcement agency the make, motor number and serial or identification number of any vehicle stored, parked or left in the owner’s garage, park or lot for a period of more than 30 consecutive days unless arrangements have been made by the owner of the vehicle for its continuous storage or parking or unless the owner of the vehicle is personally known to the owner of the garage, park or lot. Any person who fails to submit such report may be required to forfeit not more than $25.

History: 1971 c. 278 ; 1973 c. 169 ; 1991 a. 316 .
Wis. Stat. § 16.849 — WI Code / Chapter 16 / Section 16.849
Facility design services for state agencies.
Status: in_force

The department may provide facility design services to agencies, as defined in s. 16.70 (1e) . The department may assess a fee to agencies for which the department performs services under this section.

History: 2013 a. 20 .
Wis. Stat. § 898.29 — WI Code / Chapter 898 / Section 898.29
Effect of assignment.
Status: in_force

The acceptance of an assignment of any such bond shall be a bar to any action by or on behalf of the party receiving such assignment against the sheriff or other officer making the same for any escape of the prisoner executing such bond, amounting to a breach thereof.
Wis. Stat. § 244.16 — WI Code / Chapter 244 / Section 244.16
Judicial relief.
Status: in_force

(1) The following persons may petition the circuit court of the county where the principal is present or of the county of the principal’s legal residence to construe a power of attorney or review the agent’s conduct, and grant appropriate relief:

(a) The principal or the agent.

(b) A guardian, conservator, or other fiduciary acting for the principal.

(c) A person authorized to make health-care decisions for the principal.

(d) The principal’s spouse, parent, or descendant.

(e) The principal’s domestic partner.

(f) An individual who would qualify as a presumptive heir of the principal.

(g) A person named as a beneficiary to receive any property, benefit, or contractual right on the principal’s death or as a beneficiary of a trust created by or for the principal that has a financial interest in the principal’s estate.

(h) A governmental agency having regulatory authority to protect the welfare of the principal.

(i) The principal’s caregiver or another person that demonstrates sufficient interest in the principal’s welfare.

(j) A person asked to accept the power of attorney.

(2) Upon motion by the principal, the court shall dismiss a petition filed under this section, unless the court finds that the principal lacks capacity to revoke the agent’s authority or the power of attorney.

History: 2009 a. 319 .
Wis. Stat. § 626.12 — WI Code / Chapter 626 / Section 626.12
Rating methods.
Status: in_force

In determining whether rates comply with the standards under s. 626.11 , the following criteria shall be applied:

(1) Basic factors in rates. Due consideration shall be given to past and prospective loss and expense experience within and outside this state, to catastrophe hazards and contingencies, to a reasonable margin for profit, to dividends, savings or unabsorbed premium deposits allowed or returned by insurers to their policyholders, members or subscribers, and to all other relevant factors.

(2) Classification. Risks may be classified in any reasonable way for the establishment of rates and minimum premiums. Classification rates may be modified to produce rates for individual risks in accordance with rating plans which establish standards for measuring variations in hazards or expense provisions, or both. Such standards may measure any differences among risks that can be demonstrated to have a probable effect upon losses or expenses.

(3) Physical impairment. Rates or rating plans may not take into account the physical impairment of employees. Any employer who applies or promotes any oppressive plan of physical examination and rejection of employees or applicants for employment shall forfeit the right to experience rating. If the department of workforce development determines that grounds exist for such forfeiture it shall file with the commissioner a certified copy of its findings, which shall automatically suspend any experience rating credit for the employer. The department shall make the determination as prescribed in ss. 103.005 (5) (b) to (f) , (6) to (11) , (13) (b) to (d) and (16) , so far as such subsections are applicable, subject to review under ch. 227 . Restoration of an employer to the advantages of experience rating shall be by the same procedure.

History: 1975 c. 148 ; 1995 a. 27 ss. 7037 , 9130 (4) ; 1997 a. 3 .
Wis. Stat. § 411.504 — WI Code / Chapter 411 / Section 411.504
Liquidation of damages.
Status: in_force

(1) Damages payable by either party for default, or for any other act or omission, including indemnity for loss or diminution of anticipated tax benefits or loss of or damage to the lessor’s residual interest, may be liquidated in the lease agreement but only at an amount or by a formula that is reasonable in light of the then anticipated harm caused by the default or other act or omission.

(2) If the lease agreement provides for liquidation of damages, and the provision does not comply with sub. (1) , or the provision is an exclusive or limited remedy that circumstances cause to fail of its essential purpose, remedy may be had as provided in this chapter.

(3) If the lessor justifiably withholds or stops delivery of goods because of the lessee’s default or insolvency, the lessee is entitled to restitution of any amount by which the sum of his or her payments exceeds any of the following:

(a) The amount to which the lessor is entitled by virtue of terms liquidating the lessor’s damages in accordance with sub. (1) .

(b) In the absence of terms liquidating the lessor’s damages in accordance with sub. (1) , 20 percent of the then present value of the total rent that the lessee was obligated to pay for the balance of the lease term, or, in the case of a consumer lease, the lesser of that amount or $500.

(4) A lessee’s right to restitution under sub. (3) is subject to offset to the extent that the lessor establishes all of the following:

(a) A right to recover damages under provisions of this chapter other than sub. (1) .

(b) The amount or value of any benefits received by the lessee directly or indirectly by reason of the lease contract.

History: 1991 a. 148 .
Wis. Stat. § 895.515 — WI Code / Chapter 895 / Section 895.515
Civil liability exemption; equipment or technology donation.
Status: in_force

(1) In this section:

(a) “Commercial equipment or technology” means goods or related procedures used or bought for use primarily in a business, including farming and a profession.

(b) “Institution of higher education” means an institution within the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in this state.

(2) Any person engaged in the sale or use of commercial equipment or technology, for profit or not for profit, who donates any commercial equipment or technology to a public or private elementary or secondary school, a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m) , or an institution of higher education or who accepts reimbursement in an amount not to exceed overhead and transportation costs for any commercial equipment or technology provided to a public or private elementary or secondary school, to a tribal school, or to an institution of higher education is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the commercial equipment or technology.

(3) This section does not apply if the death or injury was caused by a willful or wanton act or omission of the person who donated or accepted reimbursement for the commercial equipment or technology.

(4m) This section does not apply to the manufacturer of the donated commercial equipment or technology.

History: 1995 a. 112 ; 1997 a. 237 ; 2005 a. 155 ; 2009 a. 302 .
Wis. Stat. § 171.33 — WI Code / Chapter 171 / Section 171.33
Acquiring title to undocumented property.
Status: in_force

Property in the possession of a museum or archives which the museum or archives has reason to believe is on loan and for which the museum or archives does not know the owner or have any reasonable means of determining the owner becomes the property of the museum or archives if no person has claimed the property within 7 years after the museum or archives took possession of the property. The museum or archives becomes the owner of the property on the day after the 7-year period ends, free from all claims.

History: 1993 a. 18 .
Wis. Stat. § 29.624 — WI Code / Chapter 29 / Section 29.624
Senior citizen recreation card.
Status: in_force

(1) A senior citizen recreation card entitles the holder to exercise all of the combined rights and privileges conferred by a resident small game hunting license, a wild turkey hunting license, a wild turkey hunting stamp and a resident fishing license, subject to all duties, conditions, limitations, and restrictions of the licenses and stamp. A person may operate any motor vehicle, except a motor bus, as defined in s. 340.01 (31) , subject to the admission requirements under s. 27.01 (7) in any vehicle admission area under s. 27.01 (7) without having an admission receipt affixed to the vehicle or otherwise displayed and without paying a fee if the vehicle has as an occupant a card holder who can exhibit the card upon demand in the vehicle admission area. The card permits a card holder to enter Heritage Hill state park or a state trail without paying an admission fee.

(2) Except as provided in this section, possession of a senior citizen recreation card shall not entitle the holder to obtain any other privileges or services for free if the privileges or services may be obtained only through payment of a fee.

(3) The department shall allocate the proceeds from senior citizen recreation card sales among the various affected programs at its discretion.

(4) The department may not issue a senior citizen recreation card after December 31, 1991.

History: 1997 a. 248 ss. 189 to 192 ; Stats. 1997 s. 29.624; 2015 a. 89 .
Wis. Stat. § 171.04 — WI Code / Chapter 171 / Section 171.04
Perishable property, held for carriage or storage, how disposed of.
Status: in_force

(1) If any property delivered to any forwarding merchant, wharfinger or warehouse keeper, for carriage or storage, is in a state of decay or manifestly liable to immediate damage and decay, the person in whose custody the property is, the person’s agent or attorney, may make an affidavit of this fact, and present the affidavit to a circuit judge or supplemental court commissioner for the county in which the property is located, and the circuit judge or supplemental court commissioner shall immediately make an order requiring the sheriff or any constable of the county to immediately inspect the property, and directing him or her, if it is found to be in a state of decay or manifestly liable to immediate damage or decay, to summarily sell the property without notice.

(2) If the sheriff or constable, upon inspection, finds the property to be in a state of decay, or manifestly liable to immediate damage or decay, the sheriff or constable shall attach to the order his or her affidavit stating such fact, and shall make an inventory of the property, and shall summarily sell the property without notice, and shall make full return of the sheriff’s or constable’s execution of the order to the judge or supplemental court commissioner who issued the same, together with the sheriff’s or constable’s affidavit, inventory and the proceeds of said sale, after deducting the sheriff’s or constable’s fees therefrom.

(3) From the proceeds of such sale, the judge or supplemental court commissioner shall pay all legal charges that have been incurred in relation to the property, or a ratable proportion of each charge if the proceeds of the sale are not sufficient to pay all the charges; and the balance, if any, the judge or supplemental court commissioner shall immediately pay over to the treasurer of the judge’s or commissioner’s county, with a copy of all the proceedings in the matter. The county treasurer shall file the copy in his or her office.

(4) The person in whose custody such property shall be when any such proceeding for the sale thereof shall be commenced, shall immediately notify the consignor and consignee of such sale, which notice shall be in writing, and shall be served by leaving a copy thereof with the consignor and consignee, personally or by mail.

History: 1977 c. 449 ; 1993 a. 482 ; 2001 a. 61 .
Wis. Stat. § 814.25 — WI Code / Chapter 814 / Section 814.25
Costs in actions by prisoners.
Status: in_force

(1) In this section:

(a) “Prisoner” has the meaning given in s. 801.02 (7) (a) 2.

(b) “Prison or jail conditions” has the meaning given in s. 801.02 (7) (a) 3.

(2)

(a) Except as provided in par. (b) , if a prisoner brings an action or special proceeding related to prison or jail conditions, no costs may be allowed against the state, a state agency or a county, city, village or town, or against any individual defendant when sued in an official capacity.

(b) Costs are allowable to a prisoner who obtains prospective injunctive relief against an individual defendant when that defendant is sued in an official capacity and to a prisoner who obtains a judgment against a defendant when that defendant is sued in his or her personal capacity. This paragraph does not apply to actions or special proceedings related to prison or jail conditions that seek a remedy available by certiorari.

(3) If the prevailing party is the state, a state agency or a county, city, village or town or an individual in any action or special proceeding commenced by a prisoner related to prison or jail conditions, the prisoner shall pay the full costs allowed under this chapter. The prisoner shall be required to pay the costs out of any trust fund accounts that he or she holds in the same manner as payment is required for court fees under s. 814.29 (1m) (e) .

History: 1997 a. 133 .
Wis. Stat. § 702.101 — WI Code / Chapter 702 / Section 702.101
Short title.
Status: in_force

This act may be cited as the Uniform Powers of Appointment Act.

History: 2023 a. 127 .
Wis. Stat. § 196.84 — WI Code / Chapter 196 / Section 196.84
Commission’s holding company and nonutility affiliate regulation costs.
Status: in_force

Under rules promulgated by the commission, a holding company, as defined in s. 196.795 (1) (h) or a nonutility affiliate, as defined under s. 196.795 (1) (j) , shall compensate the commission for the cost of any increase in regulation of any public utility affiliate, as defined under s. 196.795 (1) (L) , which is with the holding company or nonutility affiliate in a holding company system as defined in s. 196.795 (1) (i) , if the commission determines that the increase is reasonably required in order for the commission to implement and enforce s. 196.795 . Such compensation may not be recovered directly or indirectly from any public utility affiliate. The commission shall assess such compensation using the procedure prescribed in s. 196.85 , except that no advance payment of a remainder assessment under s. 196.85 (2) may be required for the first 2 fiscal years after November 28, 1985. No assessment may be made under this section against any holding company or nonutility affiliate for any time worked by any person under s. 196.795 (10m) if the time is properly assessable for utility regulation under s. 196.85 . For the purpose of calculating cost increases under this section, 90 percent of the cost increases determined shall be costs of the commission and 10 percent of the cost increases determined shall be costs of state government operations.

History: 1985 a. 79 ; 1991 a. 269 .
Wis. Stat. § 170.03 — WI Code / Chapter 170 / Section 170.03
Appraisal.
Status: in_force

Every finder of a stray of the value of $10 or more, at the time of such taking up, shall within one month cause the stray to be appraised by the chairperson of the town, and a certificate of the appraisal, signed by the chairperson, shall be filed in the town clerk’s office. The finder shall pay the town chairperson 50 cents for the certificate and 10 cents per mile for each mile necessarily traveled to make the same.

History: 1989 a. 56 s. 258 .
Wis. Stat. § 25.72 — WI Code / Chapter 25 / Section 25.72
Historical legacy trust fund.
Status: in_force

There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the historical legacy trust fund that consists of all moneys in the bicentennial account under s. 25.72 (2) , 1999 stats., and all gifts, grants, or bequests made to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Wisconsin statehood.

History: 1997 a. 27 ; 2001 a. 16 .
Wis. Stat. § 701.0306 — WI Code / Chapter 701 / Section 701.0306
Designated representative.
Status: in_force

(1) If specifically nominated in the trust instrument, one or more persons may be designated to represent and bind a beneficiary and receive any notice, information, accounting, or report. The trust instrument may also authorize any one or more persons to designate one or more persons to represent and bind a beneficiary and receive any notice, information, accounting, or report.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person designated in sub. (1) may not represent and bind a beneficiary while that person is serving as trustee.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person designated in sub. (1) may not represent and bind another beneficiary if the person designated also is a beneficiary, unless one of the following applies:

(a) That person was named by the settlor.

(b) That person is one of the following:

1. The beneficiary’s spouse.

2. A grandparent or descendant of a grandparent of the beneficiary.

3. A grandparent or descendant of a grandparent of the beneficiary’s spouse.

History: 2023 a. 127 .
Wis. Stat. § 48.672 — WI Code / Chapter 48 / Section 48.672
Video surveillance and recording.
Status: in_force

(1) Group homes, shelter care facilities, and child welfare agencies that operate a residential care center for children and youth may use video surveillance and recordings in common areas, entrances, and exits without the consent of the child being surveilled or recorded. The group home, shelter care facility, or child welfare agency shall inform the child and the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian about the video surveillance and recording.

(2) All child welfare agencies that operate a residential care center for children and youth, all group homes, and all shelter care facilities shall adopt a policy for monitoring safety in those facilities, which may include the use of video surveillance and recording in common areas, entrances, and exits.

(3) Video surveillance and recording authorized under subs. (1) and (2) may not be used as a substitute for one-on-one monitoring of a child who is at high risk for self-harm.

(4) Video recording data under this section is confidential and not open to public inspection, except that the exceptions to the confidentiality of records that apply to agencies under s. 48.78 (2) apply to residential care centers for children and youth, group homes, and shelter care facilities with respect to video recording data under this subsection. The department may review any recording made under this section.

History: 2025 a. 184 .
Wis. Stat. § 709.03 — WI Code / Chapter 709 / Section 709.03
Residential real estate condition report form.
Status: in_force

The report required under s. 709.02 with respect to real property, as defined in s. 709.001 (5) (a) , shall be in substantially the following form and shall include at least all of the following information:

History: 1991 a. 162 ; 1995 a. 27 ss. 7067 , 9116 (5) , 9130 (4) ; 1995 a. 180 ; 2007 a. 121 ; 2009 a. 211 ; 2011 a. 32 , 107 ; 2013 a. 304 ; 2017 a. 222 , 338 ; 2021 a. 47 , 96 ; 2021 a. 238 s. 45 ; 2021 a. 239 s. 74 ; 2025 a. 120 , 237 .