OHI and the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO) collectively announced a huge win for private campgrounds in Wisconsin, as Governor Tony Evers signed Wisconsin Act 117 a new law clarifying that personal property owned by seasonal campers and located within licensed campgrounds is exempt from real property tax, continues to move forward with strong momentum.
The law goes into effect starting with property tax assessments as of Jan. 1, 2026.
While OHI initiated the original bill that culminated in this action by the governor, getting the law enacted was a team effort.
“The successful passage of this bill into law underscores the power of collaboration between industry associations, campground members and legislators, as well as the legislative advocacy value OHI and WACO provide to campgrounds throughout the year,” says Paul Bambei, president and CEO of OHI. “Advocacy is a benefit of association membership that isn’t always seen as immediate value because there isn’t a direct cost attached, but this is real money savings for campgrounds in Wisconsin. For each and every campground in the state, the ROI of this law is literally tens of thousands of dollars — well more than the cost of any membership.”
The original bill was sponsored by Rep. Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca) and Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R- Appleton), to clarify existing legislation. The clarity provided with this new law will ensure a seasonal camper’s personal property located within a licensed campground is treated the same as any other personal property that became permanently exempted from property taxation with the passage of Act 12. You can read the text of Act 117 here.
The issue originally surfaced by Jim Button, owner of Evergreen Campsites in Wild Rose, Wisconsin, and chair of the OHI Board of Directors.
“In the end, it’s a win for small business campground owners in Wisconsin and for our campers,” said Button. “It took a lot of work to get this done, but it was worth all the blood and sweat our associations and members put into it.”
“This legislation not only delivers immediate financial relief, but it also creates long-term stability for campground operators,” said Tina Severson, WACO’s member liaison. “Wisconsin campgrounds can now plan with greater confidence, knowing that these structures will no longer be subject to inconsistent taxation. That stability is critical for continued investment and growth in our industry.”
OHI and WACO collectively commend the efforts of Representative Kevin Petersen and Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara for their leadership in introducing this legislation and look forward to continued partnerships with these legislators to support the growth and sustainability of Wisconsin’s private campgrounds.
For questions about this new law or ongoing advocacy efforts, please reach out to the OHI Government Affairs team at [email protected] or the WACO offices at [email protected].
