On Thursday, February 12, Senate Bill 1024 was introduced. This bill requires wake sports to maintain a distance of 500 feet from shore, operate in water at least 20 feet deep, and it preserves local control. Wisconsin Lakes continues to advocate for the four main pillars for wake sport legislation, but views SB1024 as a reasonable compromise compared to the bad Assembly bill AB1033 and its companion Senate bill SB1025.
Why Wisconsin Lakes OPPOSES
Assembly Bill 1033/Senate Bill 1025
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AB 1033 and its companion bill, SB 1025, fall far short of protecting our lakes from the well-documented harm caused by enhanced wakes. Worse yet – instead of empowering communities to safeguard their waters, these bills would expose town boards to costly and intimidating legal challenges if they attempt to enact stronger protections. Here is a summary of these bills and why WI Lakes is urging you to contact your legislators to oppose them:
- No support for local control – AB1033/SB1025 are silent on local control leaving a gaping hole for wake boat industry attorneys to challenge the 77 existing local ordinances, and prevent new ordinances from getting enacted.
- No indemnity clause for Towns and Town officials who might approve more protective wake surf regulations. We must protect Towns and Town officials from frivolous lawsuits.
- They fall far short of the 700 feet from shore or even or even the 500 feet in a compromise bill SB1024
- There is zero reference to depth – which means people can wake surf in shallow water and blow-up the lake bottom – despite many new studies noting wake surfing should be done in depths of 20-30 feet to avoid damaging the lake bottom.
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Next Public Hearing – It is expected that the public hearing for SB 1025 will be held on Thursday February 19th and we encourage everyone to contact their legislators and ask them to not support it – here is how to do that:
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- Determine who your legislators are by clicking HERE, entering your address and clicking on “Find Your Legislator”.
- The best way to contact them is by phone, if you can’t contact them by phone then please email them.
- What to say?
- Always be courteous and concise!!
- State your name and the town/city where you live. If you own property or recreate on a lake or river where wake sports are a threat, state that too.
- Give the reason you are calling (AB 1033 for Assembly and SB 1025 for Senate) and the stance you want your legislator to take – “I request that you do not support AB 1033 and SB 1025)”. If you send an email you can explain why the bills should not be supported.
- Attend the public hearing and voice your concerns! It is expected the public hearing for SB1025 (bad bill) will be held Thursday February 19th at 9:30am. More details will be sent out when it’s available.
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Why Wisconsin Lakes SUPPORTS Senate Bill 1024
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While the Senate Bill 1024 does not support all four pillars, it is significantly better and the following explains why it’s an acceptable compromise.
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- The 500-foot distance from shore provides stronger protection for Wisconsin’s shorelines. Wake-enhanced activities such as wakesurfing and wakeboarding generate wave energy that can travel several hundred feet before dissipating. Requiring these activities to occur at least 500 feet from shore better safeguards waterbodies, shoreline properties, and other lake users.
- The 20-foot minimum depth requirement protects lakebeds, fish habitat, and recreational users. Scientific research, including the 2025 St. Anthony Falls Laboratory study, documents the harmful impacts of wakesurfing in waters shallower than 20 feet. Operating in shallow areas can damage lake bottoms and critical fish habitat, including sport fish habitat.
- SB 1024 also preserves local control by affirming the authority of local governments to adopt more protective lake ordinances. The bill includes civil immunity protections for ordinances enacted or enforced in good faith.
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These provisions align with the protections Wisconsin Lakes has been advocating over the past two years. While stronger statewide measures would be preferable, Wisconsin Lakes views SB 1024 as a reasonable compromise.
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SAVE THE DATE!
2026 Wisconsin Lakes & Rivers Convention
April 15-17, 2026
Stevens Point
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Wisconsin Lakes depends on our members and donors to support all of our activities and work to ensure clean, safe, and healthy lakes. Join or donate today!
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Copyright 2025 Wisconsin Association of Lakes, dba Wisconsin Lakes
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