Relating to: various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE)
AB 652 updates Wisconsin's unemployment insurance law to improve accessibility and prevent fraud. It creates new "good cause" exceptions for claimants who cannot use electronic systems due to limited internet access, digital literacy challenges, or disabilities. The bill also requires employers to report job declines or missed interviews by claimants, which could affect benefit eligibility unless "good cause" is proven. Additionally, it adds a $5,000 penalty for false initial claims and clarifies rules to prevent duplicate social security disability payments. These changes directly affect unemployed workers filing claims, employers reporting job-related incidents, and the unemployment department processing claims.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Assembly Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 13, 2025
Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes · Assembly Jan 20, 2026
How they voted
52–45
Passed
Total votes 97
Jan 20, 2026
D
Democratic45
100% Nay
R
Republican52
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Amendments
3
Mar 23, 2026
Amended
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 44
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Amended
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 53, Noes 44
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Sinicki
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 1-20-2026 by Committee on Rules
lower
Jan 6, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Jan 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated Employment, Ayes 6, Noes 3
lower
Nov 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Committee on Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated Employment
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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