Senate Bill 394 aims to enhance the penalties for damaging or graffitiing certain historical properties in Wisconsin. Under the current law, it is classified as a Class I felony to damage specific vehicles, highways, common carrier property, grand juror property, and state-owned historical property. This bill expands the definition of protected properties to include any structure, plaque, statue, painting, or other monument of commemorative or historical significance that is either on publicly owned land or maintained by the state, counties, or municipalities.

The bill amends sections 943.01 (2) (e) and 943.017 (2) (e) of the statutes, replacing the term "state-owned" with "publicly owned" and adding that the properties must either be listed on a registry or be recognized as significant historical or commemorative monuments. This change broadens the scope of protection for historical properties and establishes a clearer legal framework for prosecuting offenses related to their damage.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 943.01(2)(e), 943.01, 943.017(2)(e), 943.017