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Thursday, September 11, 2025

Sen. Tomczyk authors bill in Wisconsin Senate to limit emergency power proclamations

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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

The new bill authored by State Sen. Cory Tomczyk seeks to limit the duration of emergency power proclamations by local government chief executives to ensure timely legislative oversight, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "time limits on local unit of government chief executive officer emergency power proclamations".

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

In essence, the bill amends existing statutes to limit the duration of emergency power proclamations made by a local unit of government’s chief executive officer to 60 days, unless the local governing body chooses to extend it. The bill defines a "chief executive officer" as the county executive, county administrator, or county board chair of a county, mayor or city manager of a city, village president of a village, town board chairperson of a town, or anyone acting in these capacities. The proclamation can be ratified, altered, modified, extended, or repealed by the governing body once it is able to convene, ensuring that any decisions made under the proclamation remain valid until formally addressed by the governing body.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Brent Jacobson (Republican-87th District) Senator Van H. Wanggaard (Republican-21st District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), along 13 other co-sponsors.

Cory Tomczyk has authored or co-authored another 105 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
SB31006/04/2025Time limits on local unit of government chief executive officer emergency power proclamations
SB22204/25/2025Extortion, sexual extortion, and providing a penalty
SB21604/16/2025Local government competitive bidding thresholds. (FE)
SB21104/16/2025Exempting tobacco bars from the public smoking ban
SB21004/16/2025Changes to amount of, and criteria for designating recipients of, academic excellence higher education scholarships. (FE)
SB20504/16/2025Information provided to voters concerning proposed constitutional amendments and other statewide referenda. (FE)
SB19604/14/2025Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE)
SB18604/14/2025Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE)
SB18404/14/2025Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device
SB16704/03/2025Possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE)
SB15703/27/2025Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age
SB15503/21/2025Requiring periodic inspections of parking structures
SB14003/21/2025Provisional social worker certificates and licenses
SB13603/14/2025School bus back-up lamps
SB13403/14/2025Alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders
SB12603/14/2025The effective date of certain provisions contained in 2023 Wisconsin Act 126
SB12003/07/2025School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns
SB11403/07/2025Sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products. (FE)
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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