Cory Tomczyk Wisconsin State Senator (District 29) | https://www.facebook.com
Cory Tomczyk Wisconsin State Senator (District 29) | https://www.facebook.com
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "exempting tobacco bars from the public smoking ban".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill exempts tobacco bars from the public indoor smoking ban if they meet specific criteria. For exemption, the tobacco bar must have been established on or after June 4, 2009, allow only the smoking of cigars and pipes, and must not operate as a retail food establishment. Under current law, tobacco bars are defined as taverns with at least 15% of their annual gross income derived from on-premises sales of cigars and pipe tobacco, not including vending machine sales. Existing tobacco bars before June 3, 2009, are already exempt from the indoor smoking prohibition, but this bill extends the exemption to newer establishments that comply with the outlined conditions.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Nate L. Gustafson (Republican-55th District), Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), Senator Patrick Testin (Republican-24th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), along 25 other co-sponsors.
Cory Tomczyk has authored or co-authored another 87 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.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB211 | 04/16/2025 | Exempting tobacco bars from the public smoking ban |
| SB210 | 04/16/2025 | Changes to amount of, and criteria for designating recipients of, academic excellence higher education scholarships. (FE) |
| SB205 | 04/16/2025 | Information provided to voters concerning proposed constitutional amendments and other statewide referenda. (FE) |
| SB196 | 04/14/2025 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) |
| SB186 | 04/14/2025 | Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE) |
| SB184 | 04/14/2025 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device |
| SB167 | 04/03/2025 | Possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE) |
| SB157 | 03/27/2025 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age |
| SB155 | 03/21/2025 | Requiring periodic inspections of parking structures |
| SB140 | 03/21/2025 | Provisional social worker certificates and licenses |
| SB136 | 03/14/2025 | School bus back-up lamps |
| SB134 | 03/14/2025 | Alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders |
| SB126 | 03/14/2025 | The effective date of certain provisions contained in 2023 Wisconsin Act 126 |
| SB120 | 03/07/2025 | School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns |
| SB114 | 03/07/2025 | Sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products. (FE) |
| SB105 | 03/07/2025 | Jailers and protective occupation annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) |
| SB97 | 03/07/2025 | Parental notification of alleged sexual misconduct by a school staff member. (FE) |
| SB82 | 02/26/2025 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device |
| SB79 | 02/26/2025 | A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption |
| SB65 | 02/21/2025 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain reckless driving offenses. (FE) |
| SB59 | 02/21/2025 | Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE) |
| SB56 | 02/21/2025 | The use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement. (FE) |
| SB53 | 02/21/2025 | Requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE) |
| SB40 | 02/12/2025 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule |
| SB33 | 02/12/2025 | Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty |
| SB32 | 02/12/2025 | Requiring 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) |
| SB27 | 02/07/2025 | Requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer. (FE) |
| SB22 | 02/05/2025 | Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents |
| SB17 | 02/05/2025 | Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty |
| SB16 | 02/05/2025 | Participation in interscholastic athletics and application of the public records and open meetings laws to interscholastic athletic associations |
| SB9 | 01/24/2025 | Special registration plates with white lettering on a black background. (FE) |
| SB8 | 01/24/2025 | Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty |
| SB3 | 01/24/2025 | Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval |
| SB2 | 01/24/2025 | Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War |
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