Northwoods Reporter

The new bill authored by State Sen. Tomczyk seeks to update competitive bidding requirements for local public works, aiming to adjust thresholds and exceptions to current economic conditions, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "local government competitive bidding thresholds. (FE)".

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

In essence, this bill increases the competitive bidding thresholds for local government public works projects, requiring notice for projects exceeding $10,000 and formal bidding for those over $50,000, with adjustments for inflation every five years. It introduces exceptions for projects related to housing sexually violent persons on supervised release and improvements donated to municipalities after private construction. Similar exceptions for donated improvements already exist for cities and villages. Furthermore, the bill revises definitions and processes for highway-related contracts, and the new thresholds apply from the effective date of implementation and will be regularly adjusted for inflation every five years based on changes in the U.S. consumer price index.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Jerry L. O'Connor (Republican-60th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), and Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), along nine other co-sponsors.

Cory Tomczyk has authored or co-authored another 89 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
SB216	04/16/2025	Local government competitive bidding thresholds. (FE)
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