County supports legislative fix to lower insurance burden on volunteer drivers

Marathon County supervisors discussed a resolution (48-25) urging state action to address increased insurance costs for volunteer drivers who provide transportation to residents. Supervisor Sandalski asked whether implementation would be state- or county-funded. A staff member explaining the Transportation Coordinating Committee’s action said the resolution asks the state Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to modify rules so volunteer drivers are not treated as commercial drivers — a classification that can raise premiums and make volunteer driving financially unviable because volunteers typically receive only mileage reimbursement. The change requested would allow volunteer driving to be covered under standard personal insurance rather than commercial classifications used for rideshare-like services. Why it matters: volunteer-driver programs help provide nonemergency transportation to seniors and other residents; higher insurance costs threaten volunteer availability and program viability. The transcript records committee-originated support for legislative clarification; no vote outcome is recorded in the excerpt.