March 14, 2024

                                                                                                                                                 Contacts:

NEWS RELEASE:                                                                                                                         Representative Ron Tusler – (608) 237-9103      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                            Senator Robert Cowles – (608) 266-0484

Representative Tusler, Senator Cowles’ New Law Maximizes Value of State Parks Pass

MADISON – Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Representative Ron Tusler (R-Harrison) released the following statement after the Governor signed Senate Bill 415 into law as 2023 Wisconsin Act 113:

“Exploring the Wisconsin State Park System is a great way for families to enjoy scenic places, interact with local wildlife, and learn more about our history at sites across our state,” Senator Cowles and Representative Tusler stated. “Families that purchase annual parks admissions stickers are buying an affordable, convenient way to create memories for themselves that will last a lifetime. This new Act simply changes statutes to help families receive a full twelve months of fun with their passes, regardless of the date of purchase, as they discover the wonders of nature throughout our beautiful State Parks.”

Act 113 restructures the duration and expiration of annual admissions stickers to Wisconsin’s state parks. Under prior statutes, a state parks pass would expire at the end of the calendar year, meaning stickers bought in January and July both expire on December 31 of that year. Act 113 establishes that passes are now valid until the final day of the twelfth month after issuance, starting in 2025. Keeping state parks passes valid for a full year, rather than the remaining calendar year after purchase, allows passholders to get the most out of their money spent on admission stickers and encourages annual pass purchases in the later months of the calendar year.

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