Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB164

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/8/25
• Refer: 4/8/25
• Report Pass: 4/15/25
• Refer: 4/15/25
• Engrossed: 4/22/25
• Refer: 4/24/25

Caption

Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants. (FE)

Impact

The bill includes several important modifications to the eligibility requirements for reemployment assistance. Claimants will now be required to conduct a minimum of four weekly job searches, with at least two of these actions being direct contacts with potential employers for their third and subsequent weeks of benefits. Moreover, if a claimant is close to exhausting their benefits, they must complete a reemployment counseling session, further emphasizing the focus on facilitating immediate job search engagement and support.

Summary

Assembly Bill 164 proposes significant reforms to the unemployment insurance (UI) system in Wisconsin, including a change in terminology from 'unemployment insurance' to 'reemployment assistance.' The bill requires the establishment of a new division within the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) called the Division of Reemployment Assistance, which will oversee the administration of benefits under the newly named program. This change aims to modernize the language surrounding unemployment processes and reflect a focus on reemployment services.

Contention

Additionally, the bill stipulates that DWD must provide each claimant with four potential job opportunities each week, which may include offers from temporary help companies. Critics of this provision may fear that mandating job applications through specified opportunities does not account for the diverse job market and individual qualifications. Furthermore, there may be concerns regarding the adequate resources needed for DWD to fulfill these requirements effectively, as they must prioritize claimants who are more likely to face challenges in obtaining reemployment.