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House advances unemployment-insurance reform after debate on who funds benefits
Summary
Senate Bill 12-96, an unemployment-insurance measure, was advanced by the House after debate over program funding and penalties; lawmakers disputed whether employees or employers supply the fund and raised concerns about fraud and economic risks.
The Arizona House advanced Senate Bill 12-96 on Wednesday following floor-level debate about unemployment insurance funding, fraud enforcement and the bill’s economic impact.
Representative Weininger (Commerce Committee) and others moved the committee amendment and the committee of the whole’s do-pass recommendation for SB 12-96. Representative De Los Santos opposed aspects of the bill, saying unemployment insurance is an earned benefit and arguing against treating it as a welfare program. De Los Santos emphasized the program’s structure and said “$0 in taxpayer money are expended in unemployment benefits” in the sense that benefits are funded through the program’s financing mechanism.
Representative Waniger (floor sponsor) disputed that employees contribute directly to unemployment insurance and characterized it as “another added expense solely to the risk takers” (employers). The transcript records back-and-forth about whether employees pay into the fund; Waniger said employees do not pay into unemployment insurance while others described a 50/50 contribution model.
Other speakers noted the economic context — potential job impacts from tariffs and federal actions — and urged protecting the unemployment-insurance system. Representative De Los Santos said the bill would weaken the system and urged a no vote; Representative Waniger responded that fraud and improper claims should be prosecuted and that penalties are warranted on both sides.
After committee amendment adoption and closing comments, SB 12-96 as amended received a do-pass recommendation from the committee of the whole and was advanced on a voice vote; the chair announced the ayes had it.
Discussion vs. decision: the floor record includes policy debate about funding sources, enforcement, and economic risks. The decision recorded is advancing the bill as amended; no roll-call tally is provided in the excerpt.
Votes at a glance: SB 12-96 — advanced as amended (committee of the whole do-pass recommendation; voice vote).
