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Northwoods Reporter

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Sen. Tomczyk authors Wisconsin Senate bill on WRS annuity suspension exceptions

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Cory Tomczyk Wisconsin State Senator (District 29) | https://www.facebook.com

Cory Tomczyk Wisconsin State Senator (District 29) | https://www.facebook.com

A new bill authored by State Sen. Cory Tomczyk seeks to allow certain rehired retirees to continue receiving Wisconsin Retirement System annuities without suspension upon reemployment, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "jailers and protective occupation annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE)".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill creates an exception to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) annuity suspension rules for certain rehired retirees. Under current law, individuals receiving a WRS retirement or disability annuity must suspend payments upon reemployment with a WRS-participating employer. The bill allows annuitants who retired without any prearranged agreement to return to work, and who do not opt back into the WRS upon reemployment, to continue receiving their annuity if they are rehired or provide services to a WRS employer. Specifically, this applies to those who retired from either a protective occupation or as a county jailer not classified as a protective occupation participant. It aligns the treatment of county jailers who opt out of protective status with those who are already protective occupation participants. This bill first applies to WRS participants who terminate employment on its effective date.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Bob G. Donovan (Republican-61st District), Senator Julian Bradley (Republican-28th District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), Senator Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), along 17 other co-sponsors.

Cory Tomczyk has authored or co-authored another 49 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Tomczyk, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2023 to represent the state's 29th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Jerry Petrowski.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.

Bills Introduced by Cory Tomczyk in Wisconsin Senate During 2025 Regular Session

Bill NumberDate IntroducedShort Description
SB10503/07/2025Jailers and protective occupation annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE)
SB9703/07/2025Parental notification of alleged sexual misconduct by a school staff member. (FE)
SB8202/26/2025Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device
SB7902/26/2025A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption
SB6502/21/2025Impoundment of vehicles used in certain reckless driving offenses. (FE)
SB5902/21/2025Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE)
SB5602/21/2025The use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement. (FE)
SB5302/21/2025Requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE)
SB4002/12/2025Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule
SB3302/12/2025Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty
SB3202/12/2025Requiring a school board to spend at least 70 percent of its operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures and annual pay increases for school administrators. (FE)
SB2702/07/2025Requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer. (FE)
SB2202/05/2025Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents
SB1702/05/2025Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty
SB1602/05/2025Participation in interscholastic athletics and application of the public records and open meetings laws to interscholastic athletic associations
SB901/24/2025Special registration plates with white lettering on a black background. (FE)
SB801/24/2025Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty
SB301/24/2025Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval
SB201/24/2025Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War

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