Senate Bill 1024 aims to regulate wake-enhanced boating in Wisconsin by establishing specific operational conditions and granting municipalities the authority to impose additional restrictions. The bill defines "wake-enhanced boating" as the operation of a motorboat that intentionally creates or enhances a wake for activities like wakesurfing or wakeboarding. Under the proposed legislation, individuals may only engage in wake-enhanced boating if they maintain a distance of at least 500 feet from the shoreline and operate in water that is at least 20 feet deep. Importantly, the bill clarifies that it does not preempt local governments from enacting more stringent regulations regarding wake-enhanced boating.

Additionally, the bill allows municipalities to adopt ordinances that can include prohibitions on wake-enhanced boating in certain areas, minimum distance requirements from shore and other structures, minimum water depth regulations, time-of-day restrictions, and complete bans on wake-enhanced boating in specific bodies of water. Furthermore, it provides civil immunity to the state and local government officials who, in good faith, enact or enforce these more restrictive ordinances, ensuring they cannot be sued for their actions in this regard.