Assembly Bill 983 seeks to amend existing statutes regarding the sale of surplus property held by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in Wisconsin. The bill introduces provisions that require DOT to notify federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands about proposed surplus property sales when the property is located within or near their reservations or Bureau of Indian Affairs service areas. This inclusion allows these tribes and bands to express interest in acquiring the surplus property for public use, similar to counties, municipalities, and local school districts. If a tribe or band expresses interest, they will be offered the property at its appraised value, or potentially below that value if the intended use is for transportation or infrastructure purposes.

The bill also outlines the conditions under which these entities can acquire the surplus property. It specifies that interested parties must provide a plan detailing the proposed public use of the land, and if the property is to be used for transportation or infrastructure, they must agree to a permanent restriction on its use. The bill ensures that ownership of the land is transferred to the interested party upon receipt of the appraised value or agreed purchase price, contingent upon the identified public use. Overall, this legislation aims to enhance the involvement of American Indian tribes and bands in the management of surplus state property, promoting public use and community engagement.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 84.09(5)(c)1, 84.09, 84.09(5)(c)2.(intro.), 84.09(5)(c)2.a, 84.09(5)(c)2m.(intro.), 84.09(5)(c)2m.a, 84.09(5)(c)2m.b, 84.09(5)(c)3