Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB169

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/8/25
• Refer: 4/8/25
• Report Pass: 4/17/25
• Refer: 4/17/25
• Engrossed: 4/22/25
• Refer: 4/24/25
• Enrolled: 10/20/25
• Vetoed: 10/31/25

Caption

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; Relating to: various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE)

Impact

The implications of AB169 are significant, as it imposes stricter criteria for what constitutes a 'reasonable search for suitable work' that must be verified by the claimants on a weekly basis. Claimants who decline job interviews or fail to respond adequately risk losing their benefits for that week. The legislation is intended to strengthen the labor market attachment of recipients, aiming to encourage rapid reentry into the workforce while minimizing the misuse of UI benefits. However, this may also create challenges for applicants, especially in tight labor markets where job offers may be less frequent.

Summary

Assembly Bill 169 aims to amend various aspects of unemployment insurance (UI) law in Wisconsin, particularly concerning the responsibilities of claimants related to job searches and the conditions under which they may be deemed ineligible for benefits. Key provisions include allowing employers to report to the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) whenever a claimant fails to respond to job offers or interviews, as well as when they are unavailable for work. This shift places additional requirements on claimants to proactively demonstrate their job search efforts, thus linking their eligibility for benefits more closely to their job-seeking activities.

Contention

Notably, the law introduces a mandatory recovery process for benefit overpayments that were made erroneously, enhancing the DWD's enforcement powers regarding fraudulent claims. Some concerns have been raised about the fairness of such stringent requirements, as critics argue that they may disproportionately affect individuals in challenging employment situations or those with legitimate reasons for not accepting job offers, such as lack of transportation or insufficient working conditions. Advocates for worker rights fear that the bill may incentivize employers to utilize these reporting mechanisms to penalize unemployed individuals rather than contributing to their successful placement in jobs.