Legislation
Our "Legislative" Committee
ABATE of Wisconsin is an advocacy group that works on motorcycling related issues. Through our volunteer, grassroots efforts, we work with State, Local, and Federal elected officials and agencies to protect motorcyclist’s rights in Wisconsin.
The ABATE of Wisconsin Legislative Committee steers the membership on what is important to the motorcyclists and motorcycling throughout the year. The Committee is made up of any
ABATE member in good standing and is led by a Legislative Committee Chair, currently Steve Panten. The committee’s goal is to stay engaged on issues affecting motorcycling and be ready to develop a plan to ensure that a motorcyclist’s rights are protected.
Duties of the Legislative Committee Chair includes ensuring that the Committee members, and the Board of Directors have the most up to date information on issues currently important to the motorcycle community. This is done through monthly meetings, usually in alignment with the ABATE Board Meetings. The Chair will also communicate the latest updates to the membership through articles in the ABATE newsletter and other presentations throughout the year. It is the duties of the Legislative Committee to ensure that the grassroots membership have the tools needed to properly present our agenda to elected officials, bureaucrats, and the general public to drive our legislative agenda forward.
It takes everyone’s effort to ensure we have a safe and enjoyable environment for motorcyclingin the State of Wisconsin.
What's New?
February 27, 2025
ABATE of Wisconsin Supports Senate Bill SB 82
For the first time, ABATE of Wisconsin has been able to register in support of a piece of legislation! And protecting all types of engines in new vehicles and equipment is a great place to start.
This year, ABATE of Wisconsin has partnered with Husch Blackwell in Madison as a Government Affairs Advisory role. In doing so, we can now register to support or oppose legislation as an organization.
SB 82 is our Fuel Choice Consumer Protection Bill that would prevent any State or Local Government Agency from preventing the sale, or use, of any vehicle or piece of equipment based solely on its fuel source. We would like to thank Senator Tomczyk, and Representatives Tucker and Green for helping us by being the sponsor of the bill.
We have a long way to go before this can become law in the State of Wisconsin and we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but this is a great start. We look forward to attending Public Hearings to discuss why this is important to all motorcyclists, as well as all consumers in Wisconsin.
March 5, 2025
Steve Panten & Hardtail have been busy representing ABATE of Wisconsin in Washington DC the last few days. They met with the newest member of Congress representing Wisconsin, Congressman Wied, and introduced him to the MRF. They also met with longtime supporter of motorcyclist issues, Congressman Grothman. While they were there they met with staff from the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to discuss what motorcyclists in the State of Wisconsin would like to see in the upcoming Highway Bill. They also met with Guido who is the lobbyist from Harley Davidson.
