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Bill > SB471

WI SB471

WI SB471
Unemployment insurance work search and registration and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

summary

Introduced
10/02/2025
In Committee
10/02/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under current law, a claimant for unemployment insurance benefits is generally required to register for work and to conduct a work search for each week in order to remain eligible. Current law requires the Department of Workforce Development to waive these requirements under certain circumstances, for example, if a claimant who is laid off from work reasonably expects to be recalled to work within 12 weeks, will start a new job within four weeks, routinely obtains work through a labor union referral, or is participating in a training or work share program. Under current law, DWD may modify the statutory waivers or establish additional waivers by rule only if doing so is required or specifically allowed by federal law. This bill removes the waiver requirements from statute and instead allows DWD to establish waivers for the registration for work and work search requirements by rule. DWD may establish a waiver by emergency rule if the secretary of workforce development determines that the waiver is needed only on a LRB-4909/1 MED:ads&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 471 temporary basis or that permanent rules are not warranted, and the bill allows the secretary to extend the emergency rule for up to 60 days at a time. Also, the bill specifies that the work search requirement does not apply to a claimant who has been laid off but DWD determines that the claimant has a reasonable expectation to be recalled to work. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill modifies Wisconsin's unemployment insurance work search and registration requirements by giving the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) more flexibility in establishing waivers. The bill requires claimants to conduct at least 4 reasonable work search actions per week, with the department having the authority to require more actions through rule-making. A key provision allows the department to waive work search requirements for individuals who are temporarily laid off and have a reasonable expectation of being rehired, which will be determined by factors such as the employer's history of layoffs and reemployment, anticipated return-to-work dates, and any applicable collective bargaining agreement recall rights. The bill also grants DWD the ability to create waivers through emergency rules without stringent procedural requirements, allowing the secretary of workforce development to extend emergency rules for up to 60 days at a time. By removing previous statutory waiver requirements, the bill provides DWD with more administrative discretion in managing unemployment insurance eligibility criteria, potentially making the system more responsive to changing economic conditions and labor market dynamics.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (33)

Last Action

Fiscal estimate received (on 01/28/2026)
(1 Companion Bills)

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