SB 196 — Relating to: various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE)

Summary

An Act to renumber 108.04 (2) (ae); to renumber and amend 108.14 (19); to amend 108.04 (2) (a) 3., 108.04 (2) (bm), 108.04 (2) (g) 2., 108.04 (11) (cm), 108.14 (21) and 108.22 (8) (a); to create 108.04 (1) (hg), 108.04 (2) (ae) 1., 108.04 (2) (hL), 108.14 (19) (b) and 108.14 (28) of the statutes;

Bill Text

• Bill Text View text Current pdf

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill modifies eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance benefits and makes recoveries of overpayments mandatory.

• Wis. Stat. § 108.04

  An employing unit may report to the department whenever any of the following occurs: a. An individual declines a job interview or job offer with the employing unit. b. An individual fails to respond to a job interview offer or job offer made by the employing unit. c. An individual cancels or fails to attend a scheduled job interview with the employing unit, unless the individual promptly attempts to reschedule the job interview. d. An employee claiming benefits is unavailable for, or unable to perform, work actually available within a given week as described in par. (a). e. The employing unit recalls an employee who fails to return to work as described in sub. (8) (c).

  Employers can now report certain actions of claimants, which will be considered in determining eligibility for benefits.

• Wis. Stat. § 108.04 (2) (a) 3.

  The claimant conducts a reasonable search for suitable work during that week and provides verification of that search to the department. → The claimant conducts a reasonable search for suitable work during that week and provides verification of that search to the department. The claimant’s verification under this subdivision shall include a record of all job offers, job interview offers, recalls to return to work, and any other offers of work received or responded to by the claimant since the prior week’s verification, as further prescribed by the department.

  Claimants must verify their job search activities each week by documenting job offers and interview offers.

• Wis. Stat. § 108.04 (2) (bm)

  unless the department has waived those requirements under par. (b), (bb), or (bd) or s. 108.062 (10). → unless the department has waived those requirements under par. (b), (bb), or (bd) or s. 108.062 (10). If the department has paid benefits to a claimant for any such week, the department may shall act to recover the overpayment under s. 108.22.

  The department is now required to recover overpayments for weeks where claimants fail to comply with job search requirements.

• Wis. Stat. § 108.04 (2) (hL)

  If a claimant is subject to the requirement under par. (a) 3. to conduct a reasonable search for suitable work for a given week and the department determines, based upon the claimant’s verification under par. (a) 3. or based upon one or more credible reports received by the department, that the claimant did any of the following, the claimant shall not be considered to have conducted a reasonable search for suitable work in that week under par. (a) 3.: a. Declined a job interview offer. b. Failed to respond to a job interview offer. c. Canceled or failed to attend a scheduled job interview.

  Claimants can be marked ineligible for benefits if they decline or fail to respond to job interviews or offers.

• Wis. Stat. § 108.14 (21)

  The department shall include information on reports submitted by employers under the bill in its annual UI fraud report made to the Council on Unemployment Insurance, including actions taken by DWD in response to the reports and their effect on claimants’ eligibility for benefits.

  Annual UI fraud reports will now include employer reports on claimant behavior affecting eligibility.

• Wis. Stat. § 108.22 (8) (a)

  If a claimant who created security credentials or the claimant’s authorized agent divulges the credentials to another person, or fails to take adequate measures to protect the credentials from being divulged to an unauthorized person, and the department pays benefits to an unauthorized person because of the claimant’s action or inaction, the department may recover from the claimant the benefits that were paid to the unauthorized person shall, in the same manner as provided for overpayments to claimants under s. 108.22 or under s. 108.245, act to recover from the claimant the benefits that were paid to the unauthorized person.

  Claimants may be held responsible for benefits paid to unauthorized persons due to their negligence in securing credentials.

Action History

1. March 23, 2026

   Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

2. May 06, 2025

   Public hearing held

3. April 22, 2025

   Fiscal estimate received

4. April 14, 2025

   Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development

5. April 14, 2025

   Introduced by Senators Tomczyk, Cabral-Guevara, Marklein and Kapenga; cosponsored by Representatives Knodl, B. Jacobson, Behnke, Dittrich, Duchow, Green, Gundrum, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman and Wichgers

Sponsors

• Knodl · Cosponsor
• B. Jacobson · Cosponsor
• Behnke · Cosponsor
• Dittrich · Cosponsor
• Duchow · Cosponsor
• Green · Cosponsor
• Gundrum · Cosponsor
• Murphy · Cosponsor
• O'Connor · Cosponsor
• Penterman · Cosponsor
• Wichgers · Cosponsor
• Cory Tomczyk · Primary
• Rachael Cabral-Guevara · Cosponsor
• Howard Marklein · Cosponsor
• Chris Kapenga · Cosponsor

Subjects