In two separate releases, the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO) and OHI announced a major legislative victory for private campgrounds across the state, as Governor Tony Evers signed Wisconsin Act 117 into law.
The new law clarifies that personal property owned by seasonal campers and located within licensed campgrounds is exempt from real property tax, resulting in significant cost savings for campground owners statewide.
The law will take effect for property tax assessments beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
“This is a tremendous win for Wisconsin campground owners,” said Lori Severson, executive director of WACO. “For years, our members have faced inconsistent taxation on seasonal camper property. Act 117 provides long-needed clarity and fairness, and it will put real dollars back into the pockets of small business owners across the state.”
The legislation originated through initial collaboration with national partners at OHI, and WACO played a key role in advocating for Wisconsin campground owners and ensuring their voices were heard throughout the legislative process. WACO recognizes its OHI Board Representative, Jim Button, owner of Evergreen Campsites & Resort, for leading the charge on this endeavor.
“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,” said Paul Bambei, president and CEO of OHI. “Advocacy is a benefit of association membership that isn’t always seen as an immediate value because there isn’t a direct cost attached, but this is real money savings for campgrounds in Wisconsin. For 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 by this new law will ensure that 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.
“In the end, it’s a win for small business campground owners in Wisconsin and for our campers,” says 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 is exactly the kind of thing WACO is here for—looking out for campground owners and making sure we’re treated fairly,” said Scott Kollock, president of WACO. “It took a lot of people working together to get this across the finish line, and it’s great to see it finally happen.”
“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.”
The issue was originally identified by campground owners, highlighting the importance of grassroots advocacy within the industry.
OHI and WACO collectively commend Representative Kevin Petersen and Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara for their leadership in introducing this legislation and look forward to continuing partnerships with these legislators to support the growth and sustainability of Wisconsin’s private campgrounds.
For more information about this new law or WACO’s ongoing advocacy efforts, please get in touch with the WACO office at office@wisconsincampgrounds.com.
To learn more about OHI and its ongoing advocacy efforts, reach out to the OHI Government Affairs team at ohi-advocacy@ohi.org.
