Joel Kitchens, Wisconsin State Representative for 1st District | Official Website
Joel Kitchens, Wisconsin State Representative for 1st District | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends regulations regarding rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). Under the current law, annuitants receiving retirement or disability benefits who return to work with a WRS-participating employer must suspend their annuities. The bill allows these annuitants to continue receiving their annuities for up to 60 months under specific conditions, such as having a 75-day gap between employments. Participating employers must make payments equivalent to required contributions if the annuitant's employment status changes. Additionally, the bill disqualifies annuitants who do not suspend their annuities and do not become active, from state employee benefits but allows those who rejoin as active employees to accrue new benefits and creditable service. It repeals outdated provisions related to the 2020 public health emergency. The effective date will be inserted upon the bill's passing.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), Representative Jenna Jacobson (Democrat-50th District), Representative Daniel Knodl (Republican-24th District), Representative Rob Kreibich (Republican-28th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), and Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District), along 13 other co-sponsors.
Joel Kitchens has co-authored or authored another 33 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Kitches graduated from Ohio State University in 1979 with a BS.
Kitchens, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2015 to represent the state's 1st Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Garey Bies.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB196 | 04/15/2025 | Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE) |
| AB185 | 04/15/2025 | Property tax exemption for nonprofit theaters. (FE) |
| AB159 | 04/02/2025 | Creating a rural creative economy development grant program. (FE) |
| AB119 | 03/11/2025 | Transfer of nursing home beds |
| AB90 | 02/28/2025 | Copies of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in certain vital records. (FE) |
| AB79 | 02/28/2025 | Prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution |
| AB43 | 02/17/2025 | Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| AB2 | 02/03/2025 | Requiring school boards to adopt policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time |
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