Autonomous Mode - SB131
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Public Hearing SB 131
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Coming hot off the Public Hearing for the Assembly version of the bill that would allow Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous testing in Wisconsin, the Senate has scheduled a Public Hearing for the companion bill, SB 831. At the Assembly Hearing, we were informed that both Tesla, and Waymo, were planning on attending this Public Hearing to press for the passage of these bills.
On Thursday, February 12th, the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government will be holding a Public Hearing on SB 831 in Madison, room 411 South at 11:30AM. These bills are being fast tracked through the legislature as they are pushing to pass it into law before the session ends in late February.
This bill would develop rules for drivers to operate vehicles in Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous mode. Level 4 is defined as a vehicle operating completely without human support although an operator is required to be behind the wheel. Level 5 technology allows a vehicle to be operated without an operator in the vehicle.
Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicle technologies are designed to operate with little to no human input, promising increased convenience and a reduction in traffic accidents. While these technologies may benefit occupants of passenger vehicles, they raise serious safety, ethical, and practical concerns—particularly for motorcyclists. Motorcyclists already face unique challenges when sharing the road with other vehicles, and current fully autonomous systems are not yet capable of consistently recognizing, predicting, and safely responding to motorcycle behavior. Motorcyclists across the nation have repeatedly requested information on what kind of testing has been done with motorcycles in real life, on-road situations, and a copy of the testing results with no response from manufacturers. For these reasons, the widespread adoption of Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicles should be opposed until meaningful improvements are made to ensure the safety of motorcyclists.
The State Department of Transportation report shows that between 2017 and 2023 there were 709 crashes involving Tesla vehicles. Records do not show how many of those crashes involved a vehicle being operated in autonomous mode because there is no way to prove if the driver was in control unless the driver admits it.
ABATE of Wisconsin is asking anyone that is available to join us at this hearing to show the committee members that ensuring safe roads for all users must be considered before allowing manufacturers to test this technology on Wisconsin roads.
Together we can create a safe and enjoyable environment for motorcycling in Wisconsin.
Thank you,
Steve Panten
ABATE of Wisconsin
Legislative Committee Chair
02/05/2026
Autonomous Mode - AB 848
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Public Hearing AB 848
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On Tuesday, February 3rd, the Assembly Committee on Transportation will hold a Public Hearing on AB 848 in Madison, room 417 North, at 10:30 AM.
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This bill would develop rules for drivers to operate vehicles in Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous mode. Level 4 is defined as a vehicle operating completely without human support, although an operator is required to be behind the wheel. Level 5 technology allows a vehicle to be operated without an operator in the vehicle. Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicle technologies are designed to operate with little to no human input, promising increased convenience and a reduction in traffic accidents.
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While these technologies may benefit occupants of passenger vehicles, they raise serious safety, ethical, and practical concerns—particularly for motorcyclists. Motorcyclists already face unique challenges when sharing the road with other vehicles, and current fully autonomous systems are not yet capable of consistently recognizing, predicting, and safely responding to motorcycle behavior.
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Motorcyclists across the nation have repeatedly requested information on what kind of testing has been done with motorcycles in real-life, on-road situations, and a copy of the testing results, with no response from manufacturers. For these reasons, the widespread adoption of Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicles should be opposed until meaningful improvements are made to ensure the safety of motorcyclists.
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The State Department of Transportation report shows that between 2017 and 2023, there were 709 crashes involving Tesla vehicles. Records do not show how many of those crashes involved a vehicle being operated in autonomous mode because there is no way to prove if the driver was in control unless the driver admits it.
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ABATE of Wisconsin is asking anyone available to join us at this hearing to show the committee members that ensuring safe roads for all users must be considered before allowing manufacturers to test this technology on Wisconsin roads.
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Thank you,
Steve Panten
ABATE of Wisconsin
Legislative Committee Chair
01/30/2026
Consumer Choice - SB184
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Governor Evers Vetos SB 184
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Today Governor Evers made it clear that a consumer in the State of Wisconsin should
not have the ability to choose what type of engine is appropriate for use in their vehicle
or device.
By vetoing SB 184, which passed out of the State Senate and Assembly, he is making it
clear that the State Government should be able to restrict future sales of any vehicle or
device based on engine type. This decision will allow the State Government to ban
future sales of internal combustion engines, electric vehicles or devices, and hydrogen
or propane powered vehicles. ABATE of Wisconsin, and the motorcyclists that we
represent throughout the State, are extremely disappointed in his decision as we feel
that a consumer should be able to make an educated decision based on their own
research and budget, not on government mandates.
ABATE of Wisconsin would like to thank Senator Tomczyk and Representative Tucker
for all their efforts to help us with this principal issue. We would also like to thank all the
elected representatives that voted to support this legislation.
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10/31/2025
VETOED BY EVERS
WHO YOU
VOTE FOR
MATTERS!
Consumer Choice - SB184
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Tell the Governor
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The Senate passed SB184 on 6/18/2025. ​
The Assembly concurred on SB 184 on 9/11/2025.
Now it's off to the Governor. We ask you to reach out to Governor Tony Evers and ask him to sign SB184.
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9/17/2025
Consumer Choice - SB184
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Assembly Vote - September 11th, 2025
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Do you feel that it is the government’s position to tell you what type of engine you need in your next vehicle or equipment?
Seventeen (17) states have adopted the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) regulations, which would set a date for banning the sale of combustion engine vehicles. Wisconsin could be next, as we have historically adopted the CARB standard with minimal discussion.
ABATE of Wisconsin has been working with Representative Tucker and Senator Tomczyk to draft legislation to prevent any state government agency from banning the sale of any vehicle or equipment based on its fuel source.
SB184 has already passed the full Senate.
Now the Assembly has it scheduled for a vote this Thursday, 09/11.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!
Reach out to your elected representative in the State Assembly and ask them to support SB184! By passing this legislation and getting the Governor to sign it, we are saying that consumers in Wisconsin should retain their Right to choose.
Please use the link below to send a pre-drafted letter to your elected Representative.
Share this link with all your friends and family.
This truly affects everyone.
9/9/2025
Consumer Choice - SB184
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Public Hearing - May 27th, 2025
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The State Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government has scheduled a Public Hearing for SB184 on Tuesday, May 27th at 10:30AM in room 300 Southeast in Madison. This is our bill to prevent governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a vehicle or device.
This is our bill to protect the consumers choice on what type of engine that we feel is appropriate for our new vehicle, or device, based on our own research and budget. We are looking for members and like minded people to attend the hearing to show support for this important piece of legislation. You do not need to speak at this hearing as we will have people there to present the position of the motorcyclists in the state.
If you cannot attend, and if your State Senator is on this committee, please call, or email their office and let them know that you support SB184. The committee members are Senators Tomczyk (Chair), Senator Hutton (Vice-Chair) and Senators Wanggaard, Carpenter and Spreitzer. If you need to know how to contact them, their information can be found here - https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/legislators/senate
We are looking to fill the hearing room and it would be great if we have constituents of the committee members, but having anyone there will help. Once you get there, we can help with getting you registered to support it if you want.
The Committee Chair is Senator Tomczyk, and he is the lead author for this bill. It would be great to show him how much we support him taking the lead on this by filling the hearing room with bikers.
Thank you,
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Steve Panten
ABATE of Wisconsin – Legislative Committee Chair
5/22/2025
PUBLIC HEARING
Definition of a Motorcycle
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Call to Action - Federal H.R.3385
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ABATE of Wisconsin spent 5 years working on passing a law that would better define a motorcycle making sure that if a vehicle is not straddled with hand and foot controls, it would not be considered a motorcycle. The bill draft that we proposed was supported by both Harley Davidson and Polaris. With the passage of our bill, the State Department of Transportation is able to correctly track motorcycle crashes and fatalities making sure that other vehicles do not fall into our statistics.
While we corrected it in Wisconsin, when the state DOT reports the crashes to the Federal DOT, these vehicles are added back into the statistics. Thanks to Wisconsin Congressman Derek Van Orden, we have a chance to fix this on the Federal level. The language in H.R. 3385 is the same language that passed in Wisconsin and already, Harley Davidson and the AMA have come out in support of it.
Here is our chance to push our other Federal elected officials to sign on and support this important piece of legislation. PLEASE, take the time to complete the Call to Action from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and let's get this done in Washington DC. After you complete it, please send it to all your friends and family to complete the request, they do not need to be an ABATE member, MRF member, or even a motorcyclists to do it. Keeping statistics clean is the best way to track the impact of motorcycling on our roads.
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Support H. R. 3385 - Definition of a Motorcycle
Thank you,
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Steve Panten
ABATE of Wisconsin – Legislative Committee Chair
5/23/2025
Consumer Choice - AB161
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Public Hearing - April 9th, 2025
Is the ability to purchase a vehicle or equipment with an engine that operates on the fuel source
of your choice important to you?
Consumers in Wisconsin should be able to choose whether they need an internal combustion
engine or an electric motor. Wisconsin’s AB161 is a bill written to protect a consumer’s ability to
purchase a vehicle or equipment with any engine type, regardless of policies written by other
states.
On Wednesday, April 9th, at 10:30 AM, the State Assembly Committee on State Affairs is
holding a Public Hearing on AB161 in room 225 Northwest of the State Capitol. This hearing is
our chance to voice our support for protecting internal combustion engines and electric motors.
Are you part of a snowmobile club, ATV/UTV club, landscape company, or car club? Make your
voice heard! Are you willing to let policies drafted in other states, like California, dictate the type
of engine you will have in your next vehicle? Your next lawn mower, chainsaw, snowmobile,
UTV… anything?
Plan to attend this hearing! ABATE of Wisconsin will be there, representing the motorcyclists of
this state and we will be available to help when you get there. We cannot be successful without
everyone’s voices!
Thank you! We will see you in Madison on April 9th .
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Steve Panten
ABATE of Wisconsin – Legislative Committee Chair
04/05/2025
Right to Repair - AB135
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Coming off a successful ABATE Lobby Day in Madison last month, our Right to Repair bill is on the move!
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Now known as AB135, this bill would give consumers a choice of where to take their vehicles and other products for repairs when needed. It would require manufacturers to make the tools and technology available for consumers to repair their own vehicles and products or have the ability to take it to a repair facility of their choice rather than going back to the dealer, or manufacturer’s authorized repair shop.
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Many states have passed a version of this legislation mainly to target companies like Apple and farm equipment manufacturers, AB135 would be for all products, including vehicles. With some motorcycle dealers no longer servicing vehicles older than 10 years, we feel this is important to protect our ability to make the necessary repairs.
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We would like to thank Representative Penterman and Senator Jacque for recognizing how important this is to consumers in the state and sponsoring this bill. Because this bill affects small businesses and independent shops, we will need to get those companies on board to help us be successful in passing AB135. Already, large companies and manufacturer groups are lobbying to stop this legislation, so now is the time to organize. We need to build a coalition of small businesses and independent shops to speak up at the Public Hearings when they are scheduled. If you know of someone that can help, please reach out to ABATE of Wisconsin’s Legislative Committee Chair, Steve Panten at legis@abatewis.org.
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Steve Panten
ABATE of Wisconsin – Legislative Committee Chair