The Wisconsin Senate passed a bill Tuesday to regulate rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, sending the proposal to Gov. Scott Walker for his approval.
The measure would bar municipal governments from regulating ridesharing programs and instead require companies to pay a licensing fee every two years, carry insurance for their drivers and conduct background checks.
Republican sponsors of it said the bill will promote the expansion of rideshare companies by removing local restrictions, like ones recently passed in Madison and supported by Mayor Paul Soglin.
Critics like state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, denounced the law for serving “no useful purpose to the general public,” and preventing existing transportation companies from developing the ridesharing technology necessary to compete with out-of-state companies like Uber and Lyft.
“The only reason this bill is here is to preclude certain people from participating in something,” Risser said.
The bill prohibits fleet vehicles, like taxis and shuttles, from operating as ridesharing companies. Risser proposed a failed amendment to the bill that would have allowed existing cab companies to operate similarly to Uber and Lyft.
“Why not let existing Wisconsin companies compete with these guys?” said state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton. “If they aren’t allowed to compete I don’t know how they’ll stick around.”
