The Wisconsin State Assembly passed a lemon law for farm equipment. The legislation was co-authored by State Representative Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc) and Senator André Jacque (R-De Pere).

“The bill allows buyers of defective farm equipment to get their money back if a defection in the equipment has been subject to repair at least four times and continues to exist,” says Tittl. It would also permit recovery if the equipment has been out of service for a period of thirty days.

This bill is modeled after the 1984 Wisconsin lemon law put in place for cars, trucks, and SUV’s by Vern Holschbach, state representative at that time. Ten other states already have similar agricultural equipment lemon laws, including our neighbors Illinois and Minnesota.

Tittl says the bill will provide relief for farmers who would otherwise incur excessive costs to repair farm equipment.

“We live in a time when Wisconsin farmers are facing mounting pressure to turn a profit,” he says. “As many fear they might soon lose their farms, they should not have to be saddled with new equipment that doesn’t work – especially considering what they have paid for it.”

According to Tittl, the idea for the legislation came from Tom Freis, a local farmer who had spent approximately $40,000 in repairs trying unsuccessfully to get his tractor to operate properly. Freis made the trip to Madison to testify in favor of the bill. He was accompanied by Attorney Patrick DeWayne who also testified and was instrumental in the creation of the automobile lemon law in 1984.

The Assembly passed the bill unanimously on a voice vote. Senator Jacque is leading the effort in the senate, where the bill is currently in committee before heading to the senate floor for a vote.