Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB164 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-1535/1
3	3	MED:skw
4	4	2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 164
5	5	April 8, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives B. JACOBSON, SNYDER, DALLMAN,
6	6	DUCHOW, GREEN, GUNDRUM, KNODL, KREIBICH, NEDWESKI, MURPHY,
7	7	O'CONNOR, WICHGERS, WITTKE and ALLEN, cosponsored by Senator JACQUE.
8	8	Referred to Committee on Public Benefit Reform.
9	9
10	10	*AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
11	11	AN ACT to renumber and amend 108.04 (2) (a) 4., 108.04 (15) (a) 2. and 108.13
12	12	(4) (a) 4.; to consolidate, renumber and amend 108.04 (15) (a) (intro.) and
13	13	1.; to amend 40.02 (22) (b) 3., 40.65 (5) (b) 2., 49.147 (3) (ac) 2., 49.163 (3) (a)
14	14	3. c., 71.67 (7) (title), 105.01 (1) (b) 1., 105.115 (2) (b), 105.115 (2) (c), 105.115
15	15	(3) (a) 1., 105.115 (4) (b) 1., 105.115 (4) (b) 3., 106.38 (3) (c) 3., 108.04 (2) (a) 3.,
16	16	108.04 (12) (b), 108.14 (1), 108.141 (1) (b) 3., 108.142 (1) (h) 3., 108.19 (1m),
17	17	111.39 (4) (c), 230.43 (4), 230.85 (3) (d) and 779.01 (2) (am); to repeal and
18	18	recreate chapter 108 (title); to create 15.223 (2), 108.01 (2m), 108.013, 108.02
19	19	(21r), 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c., 108.04 (2) (a) 5., 108.04 (15) (a) 2. b., 108.04 (15) (am)
20	20	and (ao) and 108.14 (8o) of the statutes; relating to: various changes to the
21	21	unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and
22	22	Eligibility Assessment grants.
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38	38	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
39	39	This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law,
40	40	which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant
41	41	changes include all of the following:
42	42	Program name change
43	43	The bill changes references in the statutes to Xunemployment insuranceY to
44	44	Xreemployment assistanceY and requires the program and its benefits to be known
45	45	as reemployment assistance. The bill also requires DWD to have a division known
46	46	as the Division of Reemployment Assistance and requires the reemployment
47	47	assistance law to be administered by that division.
48	48	General qualifying requirements
49	49	Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1)
50	50	register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work
51	51	search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct
52	52	at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an
53	53	individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a
54	54	claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant
55	55	must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD
56	56	and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in
57	57	similar reemployment services required by DWD.
58	58	The bill does the following:
59	59	1. Requires, for the third and subsequent weeks of a claimant[s benefit year,
60	60	that at least two of the required weekly work search actions be direct contacts with
61	61	potential employers.
62	62	2. Requires a claimant who resides in this state, for each week other than an
63	63	initial week, to submit and keep posted on the DWD[s job center website a current
64	64	resume.
65	65	3. Requires, when a claimant is claiming benefits with less than three weeks
66	66	of benefits left, that the claimant complete a reemployment counseling session.
67	67	Additionally, current law allows DWD to use information or job application
68	68	materials described above to assess a claimant[s efforts, skills, and ability to find or
69	69	obtain work and to develop a list of potential opportunities for a claimant to obtain
70	70	suitable work. However, current law provides that a claimant who otherwise
71	71	satisfies the required weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for
72	72	any specific positions on the list of potential opportunities in order to satisfy the
73	73	work search requirement. The bill requires, instead of allows, DWD to provide this
74	74	assistance. The bill also repeals the language in current law providing that a
75	75	claimant who otherwise satisfies the weekly work search requirement is not
76	76	required to apply for specific positions provided by DWD and requires DWD to
77	77	provide each claimant with at least four potential opportunities each week, one or
78	78	more of which may be opportunities with a temporary help company.
79	79	Finally, current law allows DWD to require a claimant to participate in a 2025 - 2026 Legislature
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83	83	SECTION 1
84	84	public employment office workshop or training program. The bill provides that
85	85	DWD must require a claimant to participate in a public employment office
86	86	workshop or training program if the claimant is likely to exhaust regular UI
87	87	benefits. DWD may also require other claimants to participate in a public
88	88	employment office workshop or training program, but must prioritize claimants
89	89	more likely to have difficulty obtaining reemployment.
90	90	Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants
91	91	Under federal law, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) operates
92	92	the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program,
93	93	whereby grants are awarded to states to provide reemployment services to
94	94	claimants. Participation in the RESEA program is voluntary and requires that a
95	95	state submit a state plan to USDOL that outlines how the state intends to conduct
96	96	a program of reemployment services and eligibility assessments.
97	97	The bill requires that DWD act to continue to participate in the RESEA
98	98	program and requires DWD to provide certain RESEA services to all UI claimants.
99	99	For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
100	100	printed as an appendix to this bill.
101	101	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
102	102	enact as follows:
103	103	SECTION 1. 15.223 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
104	104	15.223 (2) DIVISION OF REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. There is created in the
105	105	department of workforce development a division of reemployment assistance.
106	106	SECTION 2. 40.02 (22) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
107	107	40.02 (22) (b) 3. Unemployment insurance or reemployment assistance
108	108	benefits.
109	109	SECTION 3. 40.65 (5) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
110	110	40.65 (5) (b) 2. Any unemployment insurance or reemployment assistance
111	111	benefit payable to the participant because of his or her work record.
112	112	SECTION 4. 49.147 (3) (ac) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
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126	126	SECTION 4
127	127	49.147 (3) (ac) 2. State and federal unemployment reemployment assistance
128	128	contributions or federal unemployment taxes.
129	129	SECTION 5. 49.163 (3) (a) 3. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
130	130	49.163 (3) (a) 3. c. State reemployment assistance contributions and federal
131	131	unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, if any.
132	132	SECTION 6. 71.67 (7) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
133	133	71.67 (7) (title) WITHHOLDING FROM UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
134	134	INSURANCE REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.
135	135	SECTION 7. 105.01 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
136	136	105.01 (1) (b) 1. The person employing the individuals in addition to wages or
137	137	salaries pays federal social security taxes, state reemployment assistance
138	138	contributions, and federal unemployment contributions or taxes, carries worker[s
139	139	compensation insurance as required by state law, and maintains liability insurance
140	140	covering the acts of its employees while rendering services to, for or under the
141	141	direction of a 3rd person; and
142	142	SECTION 8. 105.115 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
143	143	105.115 (2) (b) A statement of the employment status of the home care worker,
144	144	specifically, whether the home care worker is an employee of the home care
145	145	placement agency or of the home care consumer or is an independent contractor
146	146	and a statement identifying which party is responsible for paying the wages or
147	147	salary of the home care worker, paying federal social security taxes and state
148	148	reemployment assistance contributions and federal unemployment contributions or
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174	174	SECTION 8
175	175	taxes with respect to the home care worker, and procuring worker[s compensation
176	176	or liability insurance covering injury to the home care worker.
177	177	SECTION 9. 105.115 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
178	178	105.115 (2) (c) A statement that, notwithstanding the employment status of
179	179	the home care worker specified in the notice, the home care consumer may be
180	180	determined to be the employer of the home care worker for purposes of certain state
181	181	and federal labor laws and that, if that is the case, the home care consumer may be
182	182	held responsible for paying the wages or salary of the home care worker, paying
183	183	federal social security taxes and state reemployment assistance contributions and
184	184	federal unemployment contributions or taxes with respect to the home care worker,
185	185	procuring worker[s compensation or liability insurance covering injury to the home
186	186	care worker, and complying with various other state and federal labor laws.
187	187	SECTION 10. 105.115 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
188	188	105.115 (3) (a) 1. A statement identifying which party is responsible for
189	189	paying the wages or salary of the home care worker, paying federal social security
190	190	taxes and state reemployment assistance contributions and federal unemployment
191	191	contributions or taxes with respect to the home care worker, and procuring worker[s
192	192	compensation or liability insurance covering injury to the home care worker.
193	193	SECTION 11. 105.115 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
194	194	105.115 (4) (b) 1. If the department finds that a home care placement agency
195	195	has failed to provide a home care consumer with the notice required under sub. (2)
196	196	and that the home care consumer is liable for the payment of federal social security
197	197	taxes or state reemployment assistance contributions or federal unemployment
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224	224	SECTION 11
225	225	contributions or taxes with respect to the home care worker, for the provision of
226	226	worker[s compensation or liability insurance covering injury to the home care
227	227	worker, for the payment of any fine or penalty imposed on the home care consumer
228	228	for noncompliance with any state or federal labor law with respect to the home care
229	229	worker, or for any injury to the home care worker, the department may recover from
230	230	the home care placement agency, on behalf of the home care consumer, an amount
231	231	equal to the total cost of those liabilities.
232	232	SECTION 12. 105.115 (4) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
233	233	105.115 (4) (b) 3. In the case of a home care consumer who commences an
234	234	action in circuit court under par. (a), if the circuit court finds that the home care
235	235	placement agency has failed to provide the home care consumer with the notice
236	236	required under sub. (2) and that the home care consumer is liable for the payment
237	237	of federal social security taxes or state reemployment assistance contributions or
238	238	federal unemployment contributions or taxes with respect to the home care worker,
239	239	for the provision of worker[s compensation or liability insurance covering injury to
240	240	the home care worker, for the payment of any fine or penalty imposed on the home
241	241	care consumer for noncompliance with any state or federal labor law with respect to
242	242	the home care worker, or for any injury to the home care worker, the court may order
243	243	the home care placement agency to pay to the home care consumer an amount equal
244	244	to the total cost of those liabilities, together with costs under ch. 814 and,
245	245	notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees.
246	246	SECTION 13. 106.38 (3) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
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272	272	SECTION 13
273	273	106.38 (3) (c) 3. State reemployment assistance contributions and federal
274	274	unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, if any.
275	275	SECTION 14. Chapter 108 (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to
276	276	read:
277	277	CHAPTER 108
278	278	REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
279	279	SECTION 15. 108.01 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
280	280	108.01 (2m) The federal Social Security Act requires that, in order for an
281	281	individual to be eligible for reemployment assistance benefits, the individual must
282	282	be able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work. The reemployment
283	283	assistance program in Wisconsin should enact and focus on policies that
284	284	complement individuals[ efforts to find employment.
285	285	SECTION 16. 108.013 of the statutes is created to read:
286	286	108.013 Name of program. The program established under this chapter
287	287	and administered by the department shall be referred to as the XReemployment
288	288	Assistance Program,Y and the benefits available under this chapter shall be
289	289	referred to as Xreemployment assistance benefits.Y This section applies
290	290	notwithstanding any provision referring to Xunemployment insurance.Y
291	291	SECTION 17. 108.02 (21r) of the statutes is created to read:
292	292	108.02 (21r) REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. XReemployment assistance,Y when
293	293	used in reference to the law of another state or jurisdiction or the federal
294	294	government, includes an unemployment insurance law of that state or jurisdiction
295	295	or the federal government.
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322	322	SECTION 18
323	323	SECTION 18. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
324	324	108.04 (2) (a) 3. The claimant conducts a reasonable search for suitable work
325	325	during that week and provides verification of that search to the department. The
326	326	search for suitable work must include at least 4 actions per week that constitute a
327	327	reasonable search as prescribed by rule of the department. The department shall
328	328	require, for the 3rd or subsequent week of the claimant[s benefit year, that at least
329	329	2 actions per week be direct contacts with potential employing units. In addition,
330	330	the department may, by rule, require a claimant to take more than 4 reasonable
331	331	work search actions in any week. The department shall require a uniform number
332	332	of reasonable work search actions for similar types of claimants. The department
333	333	may require a claimant to apply for one or more of the potential opportunities
334	334	provided to the claimant under sub. (15) (a) 1. and may refer a claimant to
335	335	opportunities with a temporary help company as part of the required search for
336	336	suitable work under this subdivision.
337	337	SECTION 19. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 108.04 (2) (a) 4.
338	338	(intro.) and amended to read:
339	339	108.04 (2) (a) 4. (intro.) If the claimant is claiming benefits for a week other
340	340	than an initial week, the claimant provides does all of the following:
341	341	a. Provides information or job application materials that are requested by the
342	342	department and participates.
343	343	b. Participates in a public employment office workshop or training program or
344	344	in similar reemployment services that are required by the department under sub.
345	345	(15) (a) 2.
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372	372	SECTION 20
373	373	SECTION 20. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. of the statutes is created to read:
374	374	108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. Submits and keeps posted on the department[s job center
375	375	website a current resume, if the claimant resides in this state.
376	376	SECTION 21. 108.04 (2) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
377	377	108.04 (2) (a) 5. The claimant completes any reemployment counseling
378	378	session required of the claimant under sub. (15) (ao) 1.
379	379	SECTION 22. 108.04 (12) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
380	380	108.04 (12) (b) Any individual who receives, through the department, any
381	381	other type of unemployment or reemployment assistance benefit or allowance for a
382	382	given week is ineligible for benefits for that same week under this chapter, except as
383	383	specifically required for conformity with 19 USC 2101 to 2497b.
384	384	SECTION 23. 108.04 (15) (a) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are consolidated,
385	385	renumbered 108.04 (15) (a) 1. and amended to read:
386	386	108.04 (15) (a) 1. Except as provided in par. (b), the department may do any of
387	387	the following shall, for the purpose of assisting claimants to find or obtain work: 1.
388	388	Use, use the information or, materials, and resume provided under sub. (2) (a) 4. to
389	389	assess a claimant[s efforts, skills, and ability to find or obtain work and to develop a
390	390	list of potential opportunities for a the claimant to obtain suitable work. A
391	391	claimant who otherwise satisfies the requirement under sub. (2) (a) 3. is not
392	392	required to apply for any specific positions on the list in order to satisfy that
393	393	requirement The department shall provide each claimant, prior to the claimant
394	394	filing a weekly claim for benefits, with at least 4 such potential opportunities each
395	395	week, one or more of which may be opportunities with a temporary help company.
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422	422	SECTION 24
423	423	SECTION 24. 108.04 (15) (a) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 108.04 (15) (a) 2.
424	424	a. and amended to read:
425	425	108.04 (15) (a) 2. a. Require Except as provided in par. (b), the department
426	426	shall require a claimant whom the department identifies as likely to exhaust
427	427	regular benefits to participate in a public employment office workshop or training
428	428	program or in similar reemployment services that do not charge the claimant a
429	429	participation fee and that offer instruction to improve the claimant[s ability to
430	430	obtain suitable work.
431	431	SECTION 25. 108.04 (15) (a) 2. b. of the statutes is created to read:
432	432	108.04 (15) (a) 2. b. Except as provided in par. (b), in addition to the claimants
433	433	described in subd. 2. a., the department may require other claimants to participate
434	434	in the reemployment services described in subd. 2. a., but the department shall
435	435	prioritize claimants who are more likely to have difficulty obtaining reemployment.
436	436	SECTION 26. 108.04 (15) (am) and (ao) of the statutes are created to read:
437	437	108.04 (15) (am) In carrying out this state[s program of reemployment
438	438	services and eligibility assessments using grant funds awarded under 42 USC 506,
439	439	the department shall, except as provided in par. (b), provide reemployment services
440	440	to all claimants receiving benefits, including benefits under ss. 108.141 and
441	441	108.142, including by doing all of the following for each such claimant:
442	442	1. Requiring the claimant to complete an online assessment aimed at
443	443	identifying the claimant[s skills, abilities, and career aptitude.
444	444	2. Coordinating with the claimant to develop an individualized employment
445	445	plan for the claimant.
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472	472	SECTION 26
473	473	3. Requiring the claimant to participate in the services described under par.
474	474	(a) 2. a. as needed pursuant to the individualized employment plan described in
475	475	subd. 2.
476	476	(ao) Except as provided in par. (b), the department shall, when a claimant[s
477	477	remaining benefit entitlement under s. 108.06 (1) is 3 or less times the claimant[s
478	478	weekly benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1), do all of the following:
479	479	1. Require the claimant to participate in a live, one-on-one reemployment
480	480	counseling session between the claimant and an employee of the department.
481	481	2. Provide the claimant information about services and benefits that are
482	482	available to the claimant pursuant to the federal Workforce Innovation and
483	483	Opportunity Act of 2014, 29 USC 3101 to 3361, once the claimant exhausts his or
484	484	her benefit entitlement.
485	485	SECTION 27. 108.13 (4) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 108.13 (4) (a) 2m.
486	486	and amended to read:
487	487	108.13 (4) (a) 2m. XUnemployment insuranceY XReemployment assistanceY
488	488	means any compensation payable under this chapter, including amounts payable by
489	489	the department pursuant to an agreement under any federal law providing for
490	490	compensation, assistance or allowances with respect to unemployment.
491	491	SECTION 28. 108.14 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
492	492	108.14 (1) This chapter shall be administered by the department through its
493	493	division of reemployment assistance.
494	494	SECTION 29. 108.14 (8o) of the statutes is created to read:
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520	520	SECTION 29
521	521	108.14 (8o) The department shall act to continue to receive grants for
522	522	reemployment services and eligibility assessments under 42 USC 506.
523	523	SECTION 30. 108.141 (1) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
524	524	108.141 (1) (b) 3. Has no right to unemployment reemployment assistance
525	525	benefits or allowances, as the case may be, under the railroad unemployment
526	526	insurance act or such other federal laws as are specified in regulations issued by the
527	527	U.S. secretary of labor, and has not received and is not seeking unemployment
528	528	reemployment assistance benefits under the unemployment insurance
529	529	reemployment assistance law of Canada, but if the individual is seeking such
530	530	benefits and the appropriate agency finally determines that he or she is not entitled
531	531	to benefits under such law he or she is an exhaustee.
532	532	SECTION 31. 108.142 (1) (h) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
533	533	108.142 (1) (h) 3. Has no right to unemployment reemployment assistance
534	534	benefits or allowances under the railroad unemployment insurance act or such
535	535	other federal laws as are specified in regulations issued by the U.S. secretary of
536	536	labor, and has not received and is not seeking unemployment reemployment
537	537	assistance benefits under the unemployment insurance reemployment assistance
538	538	law of Canada, but if the individual is seeking such benefits and the appropriate
539	539	agency finally determines that he or she is not entitled to benefits under that law,
540	540	the individual is an XexhausteeY.
541	541	SECTION 32. 108.19 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
542	542	108.19 (1m) Each employer subject to this chapter as of the date a rate is
543	543	established under this subsection shall pay an assessment to the unemployment
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566	566	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
567	567	ASSEMBLY BILL 164
568	568	- 13 - LRB-1535/1
569	569	MED:skw
570	570	SECTION 32
571	571	reemployment assistance interest payment fund at a rate established by the
572	572	department sufficient to pay interest due on advances from the federal
573	573	unemployment account under Title XII of the federal social security act, 42 USC
574	574	1321 to 1324. The rate established by the department for employers who finance
575	575	benefits under s. 108.15 (2), 108.151 (2), or 108.152 (1) shall be 75 percent of the
576	576	rate established for other employers. The amount of any employer[s assessment
577	577	shall be the product of the rate established for that employer multiplied by the
578	578	employer[s payroll of the previous calendar year as taken from quarterly
579	579	employment and wage reports filed by the employer under s. 108.205 (1) or, in the
580	580	absence of the filing of such reports, estimates made by the department. Each
581	581	assessment made under this subsection is due within 30 days after the date the
582	582	department issues the assessment. If the amounts collected from employers under
583	583	this subsection exceed the amounts needed to pay interest due, the department
584	584	shall use any excess to pay interest owed in subsequent years on advances from the
585	585	federal unemployment account. If the department determines that additional
586	586	interest obligations are unlikely, the department shall transfer the excess to the
587	587	balancing account of the fund, the unemployment reemployment assistance
588	588	program integrity fund, or both in amounts determined by the department.
589	589	SECTION 33. 111.39 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
590	590	111.39 (4) (c) If, after hearing, the examiner finds that the respondent has
591	591	engaged in discrimination, unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing, the
592	592	examiner shall make written findings and order such action by the respondent as
593	593	will effectuate the purpose of this subchapter, with or without back pay. If the
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616	616	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
617	617	ASSEMBLY BILL 164
618	618	- 14 - LRB-1535/1
619	619	MED:skw
620	620	SECTION 33
621	621	examiner awards any payment to an employee because of a violation of s. 111.321 by
622	622	an individual employed by the employer, under s. 111.32 (6), the employer of that
623	623	individual is liable for the payment. If the examiner finds a respondent violated s.
624	624	111.322 (2m), the examiner shall award compensation in lieu of reinstatement if
625	625	requested by all parties and may award compensation in lieu of reinstatement if
626	626	requested by any party. Compensation in lieu of reinstatement for a violation of s.
627	627	111.322 (2m) may not be less than 500 times nor more than 1,000 times the hourly
628	628	wage of the person discriminated against when the violation occurred. Back pay
629	629	liability may not accrue from a date more than 2 years prior to the filing of a
630	630	complaint with the department. Interim earnings or amounts earnable with
631	631	reasonable diligence by the person discriminated against or subjected to unfair
632	632	honesty testing or unfair genetic testing shall operate to reduce back pay otherwise
633	633	allowable. Amounts received by the person discriminated against or subject to the
634	634	unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing as unemployment reemployment
635	635	assistance benefits or welfare payments shall not reduce the back pay otherwise
636	636	allowable, but shall be withheld from the person discriminated against or subject to
637	637	unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing and immediately paid to the
638	638	unemployment reserve fund or, in the case of a welfare payment, to the welfare
639	639	agency making the payment.
640	640	SECTION 34. 230.43 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
641	641	230.43 (4) RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEE. If an employee has been removed, demoted
642	642	or reclassified, from or in any position or employment in contravention or violation
643	643	of this subchapter, and has been restored to such position or employment by order of
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666	666	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
667	667	ASSEMBLY BILL 164
668	668	- 15 - LRB-1535/1
669	669	MED:skw
670	670	SECTION 34
671	671	the commission or any court upon review, the employee shall be entitled to
672	672	compensation therefor from the date of such unlawful removal, demotion or
673	673	reclassification at the rate to which he or she would have been entitled by law but
674	674	for such unlawful removal, demotion or reclassification. Interim earnings or
675	675	amounts earnable with reasonable diligence by the employee shall operate to
676	676	reduce back pay otherwise allowable. Amounts received by the employee as
677	677	unemployment reemployment assistance benefits or welfare payments shall not
678	678	reduce the back pay otherwise allowable, but shall be withheld from the employee
679	679	and immediately paid to the unemployment reserve fund or, in the case of a welfare
680	680	payment, to the welfare agency making such payment. The employee shall be
681	681	entitled to an order of mandamus to enforce the payment or other provisions of such
682	682	order.
683	683	SECTION 35. 230.85 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
684	684	230.85 (3) (d) Interim earnings or amounts earnable with reasonable
685	685	diligence by the person subjected to the retaliatory action or threat shall reduce
686	686	back pay otherwise allowable. Amounts received by the person subjected to the
687	687	retaliatory action or threat as unemployment reemployment assistance benefits or
688	688	welfare payments do not reduce the back pay otherwise allowable, but shall be
689	689	withheld from the person subjected to the retaliatory action or threat and
690	690	immediately paid to the unemployment reserve fund or to the welfare agency
691	691	making the payment.
692	692	SECTION 36. 779.01 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
693	693	779.01 (2) (am) XLaborY includes any wages and related contributions for
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716	716	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
717	717	ASSEMBLY BILL 164
718	718	- 16 - LRB-1535/1
719	719	MED:skw
720	720	SECTION 36
721	721	state employment taxes, worker[s compensation and unemployment compensation
722	722	insurance reemployment assistance, and other fringe benefits.
723	723	SECTION 37. Terminology changes.
724	724	(1) UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE; TERMINOLOGY CHANGES.
725	725	(a) Wherever Xunemployment insuranceY appears in the following, as affected
726	726	by the acts of 2025, Xreemployment assistanceY is substituted: ss. 6.10 (9), 13.63 (1)
727	727	(b), 15.227 (3), 16.48 (1) (intro.), (am), (bm), and (f) and (3), 19.85 (1) (ee), 29.024 (2r)
728	728	(title) and (d) 1., 46.272 (7) (e), 47.035 (1), 48.715 (7), 49.163 (2) (am) 5., 49.19 (4)
729	729	(dm) 4., 50.498 (title) and (4) (b), 51.032 (title) and (4), 59.40 (2) (e), 59.57 (2) (b),
730	730	66.1103 (1) (a), 71.01 (10) (b), 71.05 (6) (b) 47m., 71.26 (1) (h), 71.45 (1) (c), 71.52 (6),
731	731	71.67 (7) (a) and (b) 2., 71.80 (16) (a) and (b), 73.0301 (2) (c) 2., 73.09 (8), 93.135
732	732	(title) and (4), 101.654 (2) (c), 102.17 (1) (c) 2., 102.28 (7) (b) 2., 102.315 (2m) (d),
733	733	103.34 (10) (title), 103.92 (3) and (8) (title), 105.13 (1), 108.02 (15) (c) 1., (dm) 1., (e),
734	734	(i) 2., and (k) 9., 10., and 19. b., (21) (a) 2. and (b), and (21e) (e), 108.04 (2) (ae), (4)
735	735	(c), (5) (intro.), (5g) (a) (intro.), (7) (a) and (L) (intro.), (8) (a) and (c), (11) (g) 2. d., (12)
736	736	(c) and (d), and (13) (g) 2., 108.06 (5) (a), 108.065 (3), 108.068 (6), 108.07 (3m) and
737	737	(5m), 108.13 (2) and (4) (b), (c) (intro.), (e), and (f), 108.135 (1) (intro.) and (a), 108.14
738	738	(5) (a), (ag), and (ar), (6), (7) (a), (8) (a), (8m) (a), (8n) (a) and (b), (8s) (a) and (b), (8t),
739	739	(9), (13), (14), (18), (19), (23) (b) 1., and (24), 108.141 (1) (h) and (3g) (a) 2., (c), and
740	740	(d), 108.142 (1) (i), 108.155 (6), 108.16 (5) (b), 108.161 (3) and (3e), 108.162 (1),
741	741	108.19 (1e) (d), (1f) (b), and (4), 108.20 (2m), 108.227 (title) and (2) (c) 2., 115.31
742	742	(6m), 116.03 (4), 118.19 (1m) (b), 120.25 (2) (a) and (6), 138.09 (3) (am) 2. and (4) (c),
743	743	138.12 (4) (b) 5m. and (5) (am) 1. b. and 3., 138.14 (5) (b) 2m. and (9) (cm), 146.40
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766	766	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
767	767	ASSEMBLY BILL 164
768	768	- 17 - LRB-1535/1
769	769	MED:skw
770	770	SECTION 37
771	771	(4d) (d), 165.066 (title), 169.35 (title) and (3), 170.12 (8) (b) 1. bm. and 4., 175.46 (5)
772	772	(a), 202.021 (4) (a) 6., 202.06 (2) (g), 202.23 (2), 203.03 (8) (c), 203.07 (3), 217.05 (5)
773	773	(e) 6. and (7) (d), 218.0116 (1g) (b) and (1m) (a) 2m. and (d), 218.02 (3) (dm), (6) (d),
774	774	and (9) (a) 1m., 218.04 (4) (am) 2m. and (5) (at), 218.05 (4) (c) 2m., (11) (bm), and
775	775	(12) (at), 218.11 (6m) (c), 218.12 (3m) (c), 218.22 (3m) (c), 218.32 (3m) (c), 218.41
776	776	(3m) (b) 3., 218.51 (4m) (b) 3., 224.44 (title), 224.72 (7m) (bm), 224.725 (6) (bm),
777	777	224.77 (2m) (e), 224.95 (1) (bm), 230.26 (4), 238.31 (1) (e) 4. c., 238.397 (2) (a) 4. c.,
778	778	254.115 (title) and (5), 254.176 (5), 254.20 (7), 256.18 (title) and (4m), 299.07 (title)
779	779	and (3), 303.08 (3), (4), and (5) (intro.), 341.51 (4m) (c), 343.305 (6) (e) 6., 343.66
780	780	(3m), 440.12 (title) and (2), 463.14 (title) and (5), 551.412 (4g) (a) 2m. and (d), 562.05
781	781	(5) (a) 11. and (8) (f), 563.285 (title) and (1m), 628.097 (title) and (2m), 628.10 (2)
782	782	(cm), 628.93 (2) (title), 632.69 (2) (d) 2. and (4) (d), 633.14 (2m) (b), 633.15 (2) (d),
783	783	751.155 (title) and (3), 815.18 (13) (j), 859.02 (2) (a), and 949.06 (3) (b).
784	784	(b) Wherever Xunemployment compensationY appears in the following, as
785	785	affected by the acts of 2025, Xreemployment assistanceY is substituted: ss. 49.45
786	786	(23b) (a) 2. f., 71.07 (6n) (c) 3., 71.28 (6n) (c) 3., 71.47 (6n) (c) 3., 108.04 (13) (g) 1. b.,
787	787	108.11 (2), 701.0508 (2), 756.04 (2) (c) 4., and 767.75 (3m) (title).
788	788	(c) Wherever XunemploymentY appears in the following, as affected by the acts
789	789	of 2025, Xreemployment assistanceY is substituted: ss. 25.17 (1) (xe) and (xf), 108.04
790	790	(2) (bb) 5., 108.16 (6) (i) and (m) and (6m) (b), 108.19 (title), (1f) (a), (1q), and (1s) (a)
791	791	(intro.) and 2. and (b), 108.221 (3), 108.225 (4) (b), and 111.15.
792	792	(d) The legislative reference bureau shall, when preparing the statutes for
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814	814	22 2025 - 2026 Legislature
815	815	ASSEMBLY BILL 164
816	816	- 18 - LRB-1535/1
817	817	MED:skw
818	818	SECTION 37
819	819	publication, make other changes necessary to effect the terminology changes in
820	820	pars. (a) to (c).
821	821	SECTION 38. Nonstatutory provisions.
822	822	(1) The department of workforce development shall submit a notice to the
823	823	legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative
824	824	Register when the department determines that the department has any rules in
825	825	place that are necessary to implement the treatment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. by this
826	826	act.
827	827	SECTION 39. Initial applicability.
828	828	(1) The treatment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. first applies with respect to weeks of
829	829	unemployment beginning on the effective date of this subsection.
830	830	(2) The renumbering and amendment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. and (15) (a) 2., the
831	831	consolidation, renumbering, and amendment of s. 108.04 (15) (a) (intro.) and 1., and
832	832	the creation of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. and 5. and (15) (a) 2. b., (am), and (ao) first apply
833	833	with respect to weeks of unemployment beginning on the effective date of this
834	834	subsection.
835	835	SECTION 40. Effective dates. This act takes effect on July 5, 2026, except as
836	836	follows:
837	837	(1) The treatment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. and SECTION 39 (1) of this act take
838	838	effect on the Sunday after the notice under SECTION 38 (1) of this act is published in
839	839	the Wisconsin Administrative Register or on January 4, 2026, whichever occurs
840	840	first.
841	841	(2) The treatment of ss. 108.01 (2m) and 108.14 (8o) and (30), the
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864	864	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
865	865	ASSEMBLY BILL 164
866	866	- 19 - LRB-1535/1
867	867	MED:skw
868	868	SECTION 40
869	869	renumbering and amendment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. and (15) (a) 2., the consolidation,
870	870	renumbering, and amendment of s. 108.04 (15) (a) (intro.) and 1., and the creation
871	871	of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. and 5. and (15) (a) 2. b., (am), and (ao) and SECTIONS 38 (1)
872	872	and 39 (2) of this act take effect on the first Sunday after publication.
873	873	(END)
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