 After losing re-election, Smith took a three-month position as a registered lobbyist for the Humane Society of Wisconsin to promote the enactment of Dog Breeder's Regulation bill or "Puppy Mill bill", Act 90, which was passed unanimously by the legislature.On November 6, 2012, Smith ran for his former seat and was defeated again by Petryk.In 2013, he was hired as the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's regional political director for northwestern Wisconsin.