Eric Wimberger, Wisconsin State Senator for 2nd District | Official Facebook
Eric Wimberger, Wisconsin State Senator for 2nd District | Official Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill revises the unemployment insurance (UI) law by broadening the criteria for misconduct, which can disqualify employees from receiving UI benefits. The bill eliminates the requirement of intent to permanently deprive an employer of property or services, expanding misconduct to include unauthorized use of an employer's property, credit cards, or proprietary information. It establishes absenteeism or tardiness as misconduct if it violates employer policies outlined in acknowledged employee manuals. Additionally, the bill mandates that out-of-state claimants register with local job centers and requires random audits of at least 50% of reported work search actions. Any federal benefit augmentation must undergo a review by the Joint Committee on Finance and be subject to potential cancellation by the committee. Changes regarding misconduct also apply to the state's worker's compensation law, effective January 4, 2026, or upon rule implementation.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Duke Tucker (Republican-75th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), and Representative Cindi Duchow (Republican-97th District), along with four other co-sponsors.
Eric Wimberger has authored or co-authored another 24 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Wimberger graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2001 with a BS and again in 2005 from Marquette Law School with a JD.
Wimberger, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2025 to represent the state's 2nd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Robert Cowles.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB198 | 04/14/2025 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE) |
| SB189 | 04/14/2025 | An optional final hearing by affidavit for the dissolution of a marriage |
| SB162 | 03/27/2025 | Bid requirement for publication and printing of county board proceedings, notices, and advertisements in counties having a population of 250,000 or more and at least two English newspapers published daily |
| SB161 | 03/27/2025 | A presumption that equalizing physical placement to the highest degree is in the child’s best interest |
| SB144 | 03/21/2025 | Eliminating a judgeship from district IV of the court of appeals and establishing an additional judgeship for district III of the court of appeals |
| SB128 | 03/14/2025 | Programs and requirements to address PFAS |
| SB127 | 03/14/2025 | Exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE) |
| SB84 | 02/26/2025 | Exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee. (FE) |
| SB80 | 02/26/2025 | Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets |
| SB55 | 02/21/2025 | Prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE) |
| SB51 | 02/21/2025 | Flags flown at state and local government buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule |
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