Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: exempting tobacco bars from the public smoking ban.
Alcohol beverage — Regulation Tobacco Town
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill exempts tobacco bars from the general prohibition under current law against smoking in indoor locations if the tobacco bar satisfies all of the following: 1) the tobacco bar came into existence on or after June 4, 2009; 2) only the smoking of cigars and pipes is allowed in the tobacco bar; and 3) the tobacco bar is not a retail food establishment. Current law defines a “tobacco bar” as a tavern that generates 15 percent or more of its annual gross income from the sale on the tavern premises, other than from a vending machine, of cigars and pipe tobacco. Also, under current law, tobacco bars that existed on June 3, 2009, are exempt from the general prohibition against smoking in indoor locations.
Sponsors
Introduced by: Cabral-Guevara (R) , Feyen (R) , Nass (R) , Testin (R) , Tomczyk (R)
31 cosponsors
Armstrong (R) , B. Jacobson (R) , Behnke (R) , Brill (R) , Callahan (R) , Dallman (R) , Donovan (R) , Goeben (R) , Green (R) , Gundrum (R) , Gustafson (R) , Kirsch (D) , Kitchens (R) , Knodl (R) , Krug (R) , Melotik (R) , Miresse (D) , Murphy (R) , Mursau (R) , Neylon (R) , Ortiz-Velez (D) , Penterman (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Pronschinske (R) , Rodriguez (R) , Sinicki (D) , Tittl (R) , Tucker (R) , Wichgers (R) , Wittke (R) , Zimmerman (R)
Registered lobbying interests · 16
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
- American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
- American Heart Association
- American Lung Association, dba American Lung Association in Wisconsin
- Americans For Prosperity
- Bellin Gundersen Health System, Inc.
- Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
- Cigar Association of America Inc
- SI Group Client Services
- Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians
- Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants
- Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards
- Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WIAAP)
- Wisconsin Medical Society
- Wisconsin Public Health Association
- Wisconsin Restaurant Association
- Wisconsin Society for Respiratory Care
Full history
- Apr 16, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Tomczyk, Feyen, Nass, Testin and Cabral-Guevara; cosponsored by Representatives Gustafson, Ortiz-Velez, Armstrong, Behnke, Brill, Callahan, Dallman, Donovan, Green, Goeben, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Kitchens, Knodl, Krug, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, Neylon, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Pronschinske, Rodriguez, Tittl, Tucker, Wichgers, Wittke, Zimmerman, Sinicki and Miresse
- Apr 16, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development
- Apr 23, 2025 · Senate
Representative Kirsch added as a cosponsor
- Oct 29, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Nov 3, 2025 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Tomczyk
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1