Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

The Council reviewed the UI Trust Fund financial highlights, noting a decline in benefit payments and tax receipts compared to the previous year, while the fund balance experienced growth. Discussions included the 2026 Fraud Report, specifically focusing on intentional misclassification penalties in the construction industry, and updates on legislative proposals concerning unemployment insurance policy and appropriations. The Council also received information regarding the status of pending bills in the State Senate.

The Council discussed proposed legislation regarding worker classification for healthcare worker platforms, including potential impacts on overtime, worker's compensation, and employee benefits. The Department provided updates on 1099-G income tax statements, UI Trust Fund financial highlights, and an overview of various bills affecting unemployment insurance law. Additionally, the Council reviewed the 2026 Fraud Report, which covered fraud prevention methods, detection tools, and the impact of federal funding terminations on system modernization projects.

The meeting agenda included a department update, a quarterly report on UI information technology systems covering January 1, 2025, through March 31, 2025, and a Trust Fund update provided by Janell Knutson. Key legislative topics for discussion involved several Assembly Bills (AB 146 / SB 151, AB 164 / SB 197, AB 167 / SB 198, AB 168 / SB 200, AB 169 / SB 196) proposing various changes to unemployment insurance law regarding employer information requests, work search requirements, the mandatory nature of the RESEA program, and misconduct provisions. The agenda also listed department and labor/management proposals to amend the unemployment insurance law, research requests, and the 2025-2026 UIAC timeline.

The key discussion topics for the meeting include a Department update, a Trust Fund update presented by Shashank Partha, and a Worker Classification update provided by Mike Myszewski. The agenda also features a Judicial update concerning Catholic Charities v. LIRC. A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to legislative updates, specifically regarding employee classification for delivery network couriers and transportation network drivers (AB 269 / SB 256). Furthermore, the council will address numerous Department proposals to amend the unemployment insurance law, covering topics such as Electronic Communication and Filing, Worker Misclassification Penalties, Repeal Waiting Week, and benefit amount adjustments. Labor and Management proposals to amend the law, research requests, and the UIAC timeline for 2025-2026 are also scheduled for review.

The agenda for the meeting included a call to order and introductions, followed by the approval of minutes from the previous meeting (August 25, 2025). Key discussion items involved a department update, a quarterly report on UI information technology systems for the period of April 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, and an update on the Trust Fund. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing department proposals to amend the unemployment insurance law, including items related to electronic communication, worker misclassification penalties, repeal of the waiting week, benefit amount increases, and various disqualification/misconduct provisions. Labor and management proposals to amend the law were also scheduled for discussion, along with research requests and finalization of the 2025-2026 UIAC timeline.