Unemployment bills pass Wisconsin Legislature

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – The Wisconsin Senate passed five bills that deal with unemployment benefit qualifications Wednesday.

The bills would increase requirements in order to receive the benefits if they were signed into law.

One of the bills, 2023 Assembly Bill 149, would allow employers to report people receiving unemployment that don’t show up to interviews or refuse to schedule one. Another bill, A.B. 147, expands the definition of misconduct that could cause a person to become ineligible for benefits. A.B. 150 would strengthen Department of Workforce Development rules regarding drug testing and weekly job searches.

Other bills include A.B. 151, which defines who has to track and report certain workforce development program metrics, and A.B. 152, which increases verification procedures for unemployment eligibility.

The Republican-led measures come after a non-binding referendum question passed overwhelmingly statewide last November asking if there should be work requirements for people to receive unemployment benefits. The legislation is similar to bills that Gov. Tony Evers vetoed in his first term.

All five bills passed 22-11 along party lines.