ACTION ALERT
Public Hearing Set For Competing Wake Sport Bills
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Wisconsin Lakes OPPOSES Senate Bill 1025.
Wisconsin Lakes SUPPORTS Senate Bill 1024.
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If you can attend the public hearing – PLEASE DO! Keep your message respectful and concise, but stand firm on what you believe!
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Public hearing: Thursday February 19th, 2026 at 11:30am.
Location: Room 411 South, Madison Capital (click HERE)
Parking: click HERE
Committee hearing information click HERE.
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If you can’t attend the public hearing – Please call or email your legislators and ask them to OPPOSE SB1025, and SUPPORT SB1024.
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Why Wisconsin Lakes OPPOSES Senate Bill 1025
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- No support for local control – 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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Why Wisconsin Lakes SUPPORTS Senate Bill 1024
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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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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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