WisconsinEmployers could report events affecting unemployment claims
If it took effect, employers could report certain work-related events, and claimants would get clearer information about work rules and challenging some denials.
What it does
Claimants required to search for work could be treated as not having done so if they decline or fail to answer an interview offer, or miss an interview. They may explain why the report was wrong or they had a good reason.
Employers could report certain job-search problems and failures to return to work. The department would investigate as needed and consider reports when deciding whether claimants are available for work.
Employers would have a phone line, email, and online portal to report work refusals. People applying for benefits would get plain-language information about work rules and how to challenge certain denials.
Argument forPlain-language notices could help claimants understand work rules and how to challenge a denial based on an employer’s report.
Argument againstClaimants could lose benefits for a week after declining or missing an interview, though they may explain that the report was wrong or they had good cause.
More detail
The department would count certain declined or missed interviews as a failure to search for work that week. This applies to claimants required to search for suitable work during the week in question. A claimant may show that the report was wrong, the interview was for a job the claimant did not have to accept, they promptly tried to reschedule, or they had another good reason. If the department agrees, it must disregard the report. This would apply to weeks of unemployment starting on the act’s effective date.
Employers could report certain job-search and return-to-work events, and the department would investigate as needed. Employers could report events involving people claiming unemployment benefits. Reports could concern declined or unanswered job offers or interviews, missed interviews, inability or unavailability to do available work, or failure to return after a recall. The department would consider reports when deciding availability for work and attachment to the labor market. These rules would apply to weeks of unemployment starting on the act’s effective date.
The department would provide ways for employers to report work refusals and give claimants plain-language notices about work rules and challenging some denials. Employers reporting work refusals could use a phone line, email, or online portal; people applying for benefits would receive the notice. The notice would explain which jobs count as suitable, when claimants may refuse suitable work for good reason, availability for work, and how to contest a denial based on an employer’s report. These requirements would take effect on the first Sunday after the 180th day following publication.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- 2025
- Oct 31Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 10-31-2025Major
- Oct 29Presented to the Governor on 10-29-2025To Governor
- Oct 20Report correctly enrolled on 10-20-2025Minor
- Oct 14Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 14Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 14Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15Passed Senate
- Oct 14Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Oct 14Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Oct 14Read a second timeMinor
- Oct 13Placed on calendar 10-14-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Aug 19Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 19Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 3, Noes 2Minor
- Aug 19Executive action taken
- May 6Public hearing held
- Apr 24Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic DevelopmentMinor
- Apr 23Received from AssemblyMinor
- Apr 22Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 42, Paired 2Passed Assembly
- Apr 22Rules suspended
- Apr 22Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Apr 22Read a second timeMinor
- Apr 22Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Apr 17Placed on calendar 4-22-2025 by Committee on Rules
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated Employment, Ayes 6, Noes 3. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 17Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Apr 17Report passage recommended by Committee on Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated Employment, Ayes 6, Noes 3Minor
- Apr 17Executive action taken
- Apr 9Public hearing held
- Apr 8Read first time and referred to Committee on Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated EmploymentMinor
- Apr 8Introduced by Representatives Knodl, B. Jacobson, Behnke, Dittrich, Duchow, Green, Gundrum, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Tomczyk, Cabral-Guevara, Marklein and KapengaIntroduced
Economy & Jobs