MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The state Assembly has approved a pair of bills that would ease water body development regulations and expand property owners' rights.
One bill would expand legislative oversight on the types of water bodies the Department of Natural Resources can designate as a special natural resource interest area. The proposal also would grant shoreline property owners ownership of the first three feet of the water body and creates a general dredging permit.
The other measure would prohibit counties from enacting broad development bans, require judges to give laws restricting property owners' use of their land no deference and prohibits locals from regulating repairs and rebuilding of structures in shore land setbacks.
The Assembly approved the water bodies bill 57-39 and the property bill 56-39. Both measures now go to the Senate.
