Howard L. Marklein, Wisconsin State Senator for 17th District | Facebook
Howard L. Marklein, Wisconsin State Senator for 17th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends statute 77.25 (8) to exempt certain real estate conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee, provided the conveyance is for nominal or no consideration. Currently, individuals conveying real estate interests are generally required to file a transfer return with the county register of deeds and pay a fee of 30 cents for every $100 of the property's value. By expanding the existing exemptions, which already include transfers between parents and children and similar familial relationships, the bill aims to ease the financial burden on intra-family property transfers. The new rules will apply to conveyances filed from the bill's effective date forward.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Benjamin Franklin (Republican-88th District), Senator Cory Tomczyk (Republican-29th District), Senator Mark Spreitzer (Democrat-15th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), along 10 other co-sponsors.
Howard L. Marklein has authored or co-authored another nine bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Marklein graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater in 1976 with a BBA.
Marklein, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2015 to represent the state's 17th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dale Schultz.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB84 | 02/26/2025 | Exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee. (FE) |
| SB3 | 01/24/2025 | Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval |
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