Relating to: various changes to the unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants. (FE)
AB 164 standardizes terminology across Wisconsin's unemployment insurance system, replacing "unemployment insurance" with "reemployment assistance" in state laws to align with federal programs. It creates a new Division of Reemployment Assistance within the Department of Workforce Development and clarifies responsibilities for home care workers, requiring placement agencies to inform consumers about who pays federal social security taxes, state reemployment assistance contributions, and worker compensation insurance. The bill ensures home care consumers aren't unexpectedly liable for these costs if agencies fail to provide required notices, and establishes mechanisms for recovering costs from agencies when they do. These changes primarily affect home care workers, placement agencies, and state agencies administering unemployment benefits.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
Assembly Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 8, 2025
Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes · Assembly Apr 22, 2025
How they voted
52–43
Passed
Total votes 95
Apr 22, 2025
D
Democratic43
100% Nay
R
Republican52
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Mar 23, 2026
Amended
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
upper
Aug 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 42, Paired 2
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 4-22-2025 by Committee on Rules
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Public Benefit Reform, Ayes 4, Noes 2
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives B. Jacobson, Snyder, Dallman, Duchow, Green, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Nedweski, Murphy, O'Connor, Wichgers, Wittke and Allen;
cosponsored by Senator Jacque
lower
14 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Alex Dallman
RRepublican
P
Amanda Nedweski
RRepublican
P
Bob Wittke
RRepublican
P
Brent Jacobson
RRepublican
P
Chanz Green
RRepublican
P
Chuck Wichgers
RRepublican
P
Cindi Duchow
RRepublican
P
Dan Knodl
RRepublican
P
Dave Murphy
RRepublican
P
Jerry O'Connor
RRepublican
P
Pat Snyder
RRepublican
P
Rick Gundrum
RRepublican
P
Rob Kreibich
RRepublican
P
Scott Allen
RRepublican
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