WisconsinAB2322025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)HouseWALLET

An Act to repeal 102.01 (2) (ad), 102.15 (1) (b), 102.18 (1) (b) 1t., 227.43 (1) (bm), 227.43 (2) (am), 227.43 (3) (bm) and 227.43 (4) (bm); to amend 40.65 (2) (b) 3., 40.65 (2) (b) 4., 102.01 (2) (dm), 102.04 (2r) (b), 102.07 (8) (c), 102.12, 102.13 (1) (c), 102.13 (1) (d) 2., 102.13 (1) (d) 3., 102.13 (1) (f), 102.13 (2) (a), 102.13 (3), 102.13 (4), 102.13 (5), 102.14 (title), 102.14 (1), 102.14 (2), 102.16 (1m) (a), 102.16 (1m) (b), 102.16 (1m) (c), 102.16 (2) (a), 102.16 (2) (b), 102.16 (2m) (a), 102.16 (2m) (b), 102.16 (4), 102.17 (1) (a) 1., 102.17 (1) (a) 2., 102.17 (1) (a) 3., 102.17 (1) (a) 4., 102.17 (1) (b), 102.17 (1) (c), 102.17 (1) (cg) 1., 102.17 (1) (cg) 2., 102.17 (1) (cg) 2m., 102.17 (1) (cg) 3., 102.17 (1) (cr), 102.17 (1) (ct), 102.17 (1) (d) 2. and 4., 102.17 (1) (e), 102.17 (1) (f) 1., 102.17 (1) (g), 102.17 (1) (h), 102.17 (2), 102.17 (2m), 102.17 (2s), 102.17 (4) (a), 102.17 (7) (b), 102.17 (7) (c), 102.17 (8), 102.175 (2), 102.175 (3) (c), 102.18 (1) (b) 1., 102.18 (1) (b) 1d., 102.18 (1) (b) 2., 102.18 (1) (b) 3., 102.18 (1) (bg) 1., 102.18 (1) (bg) 2., 102.18 (1) (bg) 3., 102.18 (1) (bw), 102.18 (1) (c), 102.18 (1) (e), 102.18 (3), 102.18 (4) (c) 3., 102.18 (4) (d), 102.18 (5), 102.18 (6), 102.195, 102.22 (1), 102.22 (2), 102.23 (2), 102.23 (3), 102.23 (5), 102.24 (2), 102.25 (1), 102.26 (2), 102.26 (3) (b) 1., 102.26 (3) (b) 3., 102.26 (4), 102.27 (2) (b), 102.28 (3) (c), 102.28 (4) (c), 102.29 (1) (b) (intro.), 102.29 (1) (c), 102.29 (1) (d), 102.30 (7) (a), 102.32 (1m) (intro.), 102.32 (1m) (a), 102.32 (1m) (c), 102.32 (1m) (d), 102.32 (5), 102.32 (6m) (a), 102.32 (7), 102.33 (1), 102.33 (2) (a), 102.33 (2) (b) (intro.), 102.33 (2) (b) 1., 102.33 (2) (b) 2., 102.33 (2) (b) 4., 102.33 (2) (c), 102.33 (2) (d) 2., 102.35 (3), 102.42 (1m), 102.42 (6), 102.42 (8), 102.425 (4m) (a), 102.425 (4m) (b), 102.43 (5) (b), 102.44 (2), 102.44 (6) (b), 102.475 (6), 102.48 (1), 102.48 (2), 102.48 (3), 102.49 (3), 102.49 (6), 102.51 (3), 102.51 (4), 102.51 (6), 102.55 (3), 102.555 (12) (a), 102.56 (1), 102.56 (2), 102.565 (1), 102.565 (2), 102.565 (3), 102.61 (1g) (c), 102.61 (2), 102.62, 102.64 (1), 102.64 (2), 102.65 (3), 102.66 (1) and 102.75 (1); to repeal and recreate 102.16 (1) and 102.18 (2) of the statutes; Relating to: transferring adjudicatory functions for worker’s compensation from the Division of Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Administration to the Department of Workforce Development. (FE)

Sponsored By: David Armstrong (Republican), Barbara Dittrich (Republican), Clint Moses (Republican), David Murphy (Republican), Christine Sinicki (Democratic), Shae Sortwell (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Hearings and AppealsDivision ofWorker's compensationWorkforce DevelopmentDepartment of

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Payments for workers with older claims

The Department of Workforce Development can direct payments from the work injury supplemental benefit fund for otherwise valid, older claims. Claims must involve an occupational disease or a traumatic injury covered by section 102.17 (4). The filing time limit must be the only reason the claim is barred. The injury, death, or last compensation payment must be before April 1, 2006; treatment and burial payments do not count. Payment is subject to any certificate filed under section 102.65 (4). The law sets no payment amount.

Workers can request exams but pay

Workers, as well as employers, can ask the Department of Workforce Development for an examination after toxic or hazardous workplace exposure. The examination checks for a health problem that may have developed from that exposure. The person who applies pays the examination cost. The law gives no dollar amount for that cost.

Wisconsin moves worker claim decisions

Beginning January 1, 2026, Wisconsin moves workers’ compensation claim decisions to the Department of Workforce Development. The department must keep enough examiners to decide claims, resolve medical disputes, and review specified settlements. Pending matters, rules, and contracts continue, and transferred staff keep their civil service protections and status. Insurers and employers exempt from carrying workers’ compensation insurance pay assessments covering specified department and commission costs. Each share uses injury benefit payments paid or owed in cases first closed the prior calendar year, excluding increased, double, or triple compensation. The transfer itself does not change benefit amounts or eligibility, and no assessment rate or total is specified.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • David Armstrong

    Republican • House

  • Barbara Dittrich

    Republican • House

  • Clint Moses

    Republican • House

  • David Murphy

    Republican • House

  • Christine Sinicki

    Democratic • House

  • Shae Sortwell

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Dan Feyen

    Republican • Senate

  • Vincent Miresse

    Democratic • House

  • Jerry O'Connor

    Republican • House

  • Melissa Ratcliff

    Democratic • Senate

  • Patrick Testin

    Republican • Senate

  • Jamie Wall

    Democratic • Senate

  • Van Wanggaard

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Published 8-9-2025

    8/11/2025House
  2. Report approved by the Governor on 8-8-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 33

    8/11/2025House
  3. Presented to the Governor on 8-7-2025

    8/7/2025House
  4. Report correctly enrolled on 6-20-2025

    6/20/2025House
  5. Received from Senate concurred in

    6/19/2025House
  6. Ordered immediately messaged

    6/18/2025Senate
  7. Read a third time and concurred in

    6/18/2025Senate
  8. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

    6/18/2025Senate
  9. Ordered to a third reading

    6/18/2025Senate
  10. Read a second time

    6/18/2025Senate
  11. Rules suspended and taken up

    6/18/2025Senate
  12. Received from Assembly

    6/18/2025Senate
  13. Ordered immediately messaged

    6/18/2025House
  14. Representative Miresse added as a coauthor

    6/18/2025House
  15. Read a third time and passed

    6/18/2025House
  16. Rules suspended

    6/18/2025House
  17. Ordered to a third reading

    6/18/2025House
  18. Read a second time

    6/18/2025House
  19. Senator Ratcliff added as a cosponsor

    6/18/2025House
  20. Representative O'Connor added as a coauthor

    6/17/2025House
  21. Withdrawn from committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 6-18-2025

    6/16/2025House
  22. Referred to committee on Rules

    6/12/2025House
  23. Report passage recommended by Committee on Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated Employment, Ayes 9, Noes 0

    6/12/2025House
  24. Executive action taken

    6/12/2025House
  25. Public hearing held

    5/28/2025House

Bill Text

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