Wisconsin Governor Evers (D) Vetoes Assembly Bill 880 Aimed to Protect Racing Facilities

📸 KG Media

Madison, WI - On the heels of the excitement felt by Michigan motorsports enthusiasts who felt optimistic following the passing of Michigan House Bill 5652 in early March, Wisconsin motorsports facilities and supporters are feeling the complete opposite. Wisconsin Governor, Tony Evers, announced on Wednesday that he would be vetoing Assembly Bill 880 in it's entirety.

In the letter sent from Evers' office, the Governor recaps the Bill, which uses very similar language presented in Michigan and across the country for states that are working to protect their motorsports facilities. Evers' then goes on to explain why he is vetoing the bill.

"While I support expanding and preserving the important tourism industry in our state, I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to creating unfair and unnecessary hurdles for people pursuing legal avenues to vindicate the use and enjoyment of their land," Evers said. "As I have said before, I believe the presumption should be an open courthouse door to anyone seeking justice and an honest debate of the law of the land, and any immunity or deviation from that presumption should be tailored and finite."

"I am also vetoing this bill because I object to removing control from local authorities and preempting their ability to pass ordinances with the interests of their community in mind," he continued. "This bill removes the ability for local residents in municipalities throughout the state to engage in self-government by passing local ordinances related to nuisance actions involving racing facilities."

Lobbyists from SEMA & PRI are champions for the legislation. Tierra Hubbard and Tom Deery talked about the bill and how citizens can show their support during a recent episode of the Horsepower Happenings Podcast.

The Wisconsin Assembly Bill 880 and Michigan's bill that currently sits in the Senate follow suite of Iowa's Right to Race Law, signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in May of 2025, and North Carolina's bill that was signed into law in October of 2025. Wisconsin was one of two states that had a bill sitting on the Governor's desk this year, along with Kansas. Meanwhile, 13 other states have similar bills working through the legislative process.

According to WLUK, FOX 11 News, Wisconsin Assembly Bill 880 was one of nearly a dozen other bills vetoed by the Governor on Wednesday.