Senate Bill 394 aims to enhance the penalties for damaging or vandalizing historical property in Wisconsin. Under the current law, it is classified as a Class I felony to damage certain vehicles, highways, and state-owned historical property. This bill expands the definition of protected property 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 existing statutes by replacing the term "state-owned" with "publicly owned" and clarifying that the protected properties must either be listed on a specific registry or be recognized as significant historical or commemorative monuments. These changes aim to provide broader protection for historical properties and ensure that penalties for vandalism are appropriately applied to a wider range of significant structures.

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