Wisconsin EAAers: Support These Pro-GA Bills in the WI Legislature
Greetings fellow Wisconsin pilots:
I thought I would let you all know about two pieces of legislation in the works in Madison that would be great victories for GA in our state. EAA encourages you to contact your local representatives and urge their support of these bills.
The first, Senate Bill 321, would add aviation to the activities within the Wisconsin Recreational Use Statute (RUS). That would limit liability of landowners who permit the public to use their land for noncommercial aviation purposes. This bill is crucial for keeping private airstrips open for recreational use. When private airstrip owners fear liability arising from other pilots' use of their land, they often elect to close their airports to the public to prevent the threat of lawsuits. That makes the entire GA community one airport poorer and gives us one less destination to explore. This bill is designed to give landowners confidence that they can open their strip to the public and not risk their assets due to someone else's negligence or misfortune-especially in the current climate of easy and frequent litigation.
The second bill, Senate Bill 348, exempts aircraft parts, maintenance, and labor within Wisconsin from state sales tax. No more flying to Illinois, Michigan, or Minnesota (all states with aviation parts, labor, and maintenance exemptions already) for your overhaul: you can stay in state and patronize your local A&P shop without paying state sales tax. It matches current policy in more than 30 states. This bill is excellent news for aircraft operators and aircraft businesses of all sizes in Wisconsin, and has EAA's strong support. It will lower costs to pilots, keep local businesses competitive, and preserve Wisconsin's aviation infrastructure.
The recreational aviation land use bill could appear in the Senate for a vote as soon as November 5-that's next Tuesday. Please contact your local legislators by phone, mail, or email and tell them how much these bills mean to you, your local community, and general aviation. Strong public support will show our legislature how unified EAA members are about promoting and preserving GA in our great state.
If you have any questions about how to contact your representatives, or questions about the bills, please do not hesitate to contact EAA advocacy at (920) 426-6522. We would be happy to help you stand up for aviation in Wisconsin!
