WI AB462

Requires construction contractors to register with the Department of Safety and Professional Services, with exceptions for work on one's own property, state agencies, local governments, and their employees

Increases penalties for employee misclassification under unemployment insurance law, removing the $7,500 and $10,000 caps and doubling penalties for repeat violations; extends penalties to all employers, not just construction and painting/drywall industries

Creates escalating penalties for uninsured employers under worker's compensation law: $3,000 or 3x unpaid premiums after the third violation, and $4,000 or 4x unpaid premiums after the fourth violation

Establishes a whistleblower award program for individuals reporting construction industry tax violations, providing 15-30% of proceeds collected by the Department of Revenue from resulting enforcement actions

Requires all employers to post worker classification notices, directs DWD to maintain a worker classification website, mandates annual insurance industry education on misclassification, and authorizes 3 new DWD positions ($157,500 in FY 2025-26, $210,000 in FY 2026-27) for investigations