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Unemployment insurance reform activity in the states

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Unemployment insurance
Unemployment insurance
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• Terms and definitions
• Court cases
• Unemployment insurance programs in the states
• Reform proposals related to unemployment insurance
• Reform activity in the states related to unemployment insurance
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Click here for more coverage of unemployment insurance on Ballotpedia
See also: Reform proposals related to unemployment insurance

This page includes updates about reform activities in the states related to unemployment insurance. For a full list of reform proposals related to unemployment insurance, click here.

Ballotpedia has tracked ten types of reform activities related to unemployment insurance across the 50 states. Click each reform below to learn more about related state activities:

This page organizes reform activities in two different ways. Click the links below to see reform activity organized:

Reform activity by approach

This section contains state unemployment insurance reform activity organized by topic.

For a full list of reform proposals related to unemployment insurance, click here.

Reform: Index unemployment insurance benefit durations to prevailing economic conditions

See also: Indexing unemployment benefits

This approach argues that states should index unemployment insurance benefits to the rate of unemployment and offer shorter maximum benefit lengths during times of low unemployment and longer maximum benefit lengths during periods of high unemployment.

State indexing activity in effect

This section lists a selection of state activity that enacted unemployment insurance indexing into law. Eleven states have in some way indexed unemployment insurance benefits. The following list contains a selection of indexing activity Ballotpedia has tracked since 2011:

  • Louisiana governor signs unemployment insurance indexing bill (2024): Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) on June 17, 2024, signed a bill to index the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state's unemployment rate. House Bill 119 reduced the maximum number of benefit weeks to 12 when the unemployment rate was at or below 5%. The bill also capped the maximum benefit length at 20 weeks when the unemployment rate was at or above 8.5%.[1]
  • Oklahoma governor signs unemployment insurance indexing bill (2022): Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) signed House Bill 1933 into law on May 20, 2022, cutting the maximum length of unemployment insurance benefits from 26 weeks to 16 weeks effective January 1, 2023. The law also provided for the indexing of unemployment insurance benefits starting January 1, 2025, tying the length of benefits to the state's unemployment rate. The indexing system established under the bill was designed to provide shorter periods of benefits during times of low unemployment (with a minimum of 16 weeks) and longer periods of benefits during times of high unemployment (with a maximum of 20 weeks).[2]
  • Kentucky passes unemployment insurance indexing bill (2022): The Kentucky House and Senate both voted on March 21, 2022, to override Governor Andy Beshear's (D) veto of House Bill 4, which scheduled unemployment insurance indexing to take effect January 1, 2023. The bill established a 12-week maximum benefit period during periods of low unemployment and a 24-week maximum benefit period during times of high unemployment.[3]
  • Tennessee governor signs unemployment insurance indexing bill (2021): Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) signed a bill May 26, 2021, providing for the indexing of unemployment insurance benefits effective December 1, 2023. The law set the minimum number of benefit weeks at 12 when the state's unemployment rate was 5.5% or less. It set the maximum number of benefit weeks at 20 when the state's unemployment rate was 9% or more.[4]
  • North Carolina passes unemployment insurance indexing bill (2013): North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory (R) signed an unemployment insurance indexing bill into law on February 19, 2013, after the legislature passed the legislation the previous week. The bill cut the maximum benefit amount from $535 to $350 and reduced the maximum length of benefits from 26 weeks to between 12 and 20 weeks, depending on the state's unemployment insurance rate.[5]
  • Georgia indexes unemployment insurance to unemployment rate (2012): The Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 347 in 2012, tying the maximum number of unemployment insurance benefit weeks to the state's unemployment rate. The law took effect July 1, 2012, and set the maximum length of benefits between 14 weeks (during times of low unemployment) and 20 weeks (during times of high unemployment.[6]
  • Florida governor signs unemployment insurance indexing bill (2011): Former Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) signed a bill in 2011 indexing the state's unemployment insurance benefits to the unemployment rate, effective January 2012. The bill cut the maximum length of benefits from 26 to 12 weeks during times when the unemployment rate was 5% less. Floridians under the bill were eligible for up to 23 weeks of benefits if the unemployment rate was 10.5% or higher.[7]

Other state indexing activity

This section tracks a selection of other state activities related to the enactment of unemployment insurance indexing that were unsuccessful, that were blocked after passage, or that had not yet been passed into law as of the last update:

  • West Virginia lawmakers consider bills to reduce unemployment insurance benefits (2024): West Virginia lawmakers on February 19, 2024, introduced two bills related to unemployment insurance, proposing to index the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state's unemployment rate and reduce the maximum benefit amount in relation to the state's average weekly wage. Senate Bill 840 would reduce the maximum number of benefit weeks to 12 weeks when the unemployment rate is below 5.5 percent. The bill would cap the maximum benefit length at 20 weeks when the unemployment rate is 9.0 percent or above. Unemployment insurance benefits currently last for up to 26 weeks in West Virginia, and the unemployment rate is 4.3%, meaning the maximum length of benefits would fall from 26 to 12 weeks if the bill becomes law. Senate Bill 841 would reduce the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit from 66.3% to 55% of the state's average weekly wage, not to exceed $550. Similar bills were introduced in 2022 and 2023. Both passed the state Senate but never advanced out of the West Virginia House of Delegates.[8]
  • South Carolina lawmakers advance unemployment insurance indexing bill (2024): South Carolina lawmakers on January 25, 2024, advanced a bill out of committee proposing to index the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state's unemployment rate. House Bill 4710 would reduce the maximum number of benefit weeks to 12 when the unemployment rate is at or below 5.5%. The bill would cap the maximum benefit length at 20 weeks when the unemployment rate is more than 9%.[9]
  • Wisconsin introduces unemployment insurance indexing bill (2023): Wisconsin legislators introduced a bill April 7, 2023, that proposed reducing the maximum number of unemployment insurance benefit weeks to 14 during times when the unemployment rate was at or below 3.5%. The bill also proposed capping the maximum benefit length at 26 weeks during times when the unemployment rate was more than 9%.[11]
  • Arizona State Senate passes unemployment insurance indexing bill (2023): The Arizona State Senate on March 2, 2023, passed a bill 16-14 that proposed indexing the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state's unemployment rate. The bill said unemployed workers could collect a maximum of 12 weeks of benefits when the unemployment rate was 5% or less. The bill proposed capping the maximum benefit length at 20 weeks during times when the unemployment rate was more than 8.5%. The bill failed 29-31 in the Arizona House of Representatives on June 12, 2023.[12]
  • West Virginia Senate passes unemployment insurance indexing bill (2023): The West Virginia State Senate on January 23, 2023, passed a bill 27-5 that provided for the indexing of the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state's unemployment rate. The bill said workers could collect a maximum of 12 weeks of benefits during times when the unemployment rate was below 5.5%. For each 0.5% increase in the unemployment rate, the maximum benefit duration increased by one week under the bill, with a maximum benefit length of 20 weeks during times of high unemployment.[13]
  • Missouri Supreme Court throws out state senate veto override related to unemployment insurance indexing (2016): The Missouri Supreme Court in July 2016 threw out an unemployment insurance indexing law over a procedural issue with the timing of the state senate's vote to override Governor Jay Nixon's (D) veto. Republican legislators passed the bill in 2015, but Nixon vetoed the measure. The state house voted to override Nixon's veto days after his action in May 2015. The override process was held up in the state senate, which did not override the veto until a special veto session in September 2015. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled the state senate needed to override the veto during the regular legislative session.[14]

States that index unemployment insurance benefits

As of June 17, 2024, twelve states in some way tied unemployment insurance benefit lengths to prevailing economic conditions or enacted indexing legislation with a future effective date.


Reform: Reduce unemployment insurance benefit amounts or durations on a flat basis

This approach argues that states should reduce the maximum length or amount of unemployment insurance benefits regardless of prevailing economic conditions such as unemployment rates.

State flat unemployment insurance reduction activity in effect

This section lists a selection of state activities reducing the maximum length of unemployment benefits or the maximum amount of benefits claimants can receive:

  • Arkansas enacts law cutting unemployment insurance benefits (2023): Arkansas State Senate on March 2, 2023, passed House Bill 1430, cutting the maximum length of unemployment insurance benefits from 16 weeks to 12 weeks starting January 1, 2024. The bill passed with veto-proof majorities in both chambers (29-3 in the Senate and 79-15 in the House), so the Senate's passage guaranteed that the bill would become law.[15]

Other flat unemployment reduction activity

This section tracks a selection of other state activities related to flat unemployment insurance benefit cuts that were unsuccessful, that were blocked after passage, or that had not yet been passed into law as of the last update:

  • Nebraska advances bill proposing maximum unemployment insurance benefit period reduction (2024): Nebraska lawmakers in the Business and Labor Committee on February 13, 2024, advanced Legislative Bill 1170, which proposes cutting the maximum unemployment insurance benefit period from 26 weeks down to 16 weeks. The committee advanced the bill 4-3 and designated it as priority legislation for the full legislature. Legislative Bill 1170 now goes before the full Nebraska State Senate for debate.[17]

Reform: Require recovery of unemployment insurance overpayments

See also: Unemployment insurance fraud recovery

This approach argues state agencies administering the unemployment insurance program in a state should take additional steps to recover all unemployment insurance overpayments. Supporters of this approach may also argue that workforce agencies should regularly report unrecoverable funds to the legislature.

State overpayment recovery requirement activity in effect

This section lists a selection of state activity requiring state workforce agencies to recover fraudulent funds or report unrecoverable funds to the state legislature:

  • Alabama enacts law requiring unemployment insurance overpayment recovery (2021): The Alabama State Legislature enacted a law May 4, 2021, requiring the Alabama Department of Labor (DOL) to recover unemployment insurance overpayments unless doing so would violate state or federal laws. The law also required the DOL to maintain a record of any cases in which overpayment recovery was not possible or not attempted.[19]
  • Arkansas enacts law requiring unemployment insurance overpayment recovery (2021): Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill April 12, 2021, requiring the Division of Workforce Services (DWS) to pursue recovery of fraudulent and nonfraudulent unemployment insurance overpayments to the extent permitted under state and federal law, effective July 1, 2021. The legislation also required the DWS to report on its overpayment recovery efforts and the effects of unemployment insurance fraud on the program to the legislature by December 31, 2023.[20]
  • Kansas passes law requiring recovery of unemployment overpayments (2021): Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (D) signed a law passed by the Republican-controlled Kansas State Legislature, effective May 13, 2021, that required the Kansas Department of Labor to recover overpaid unemployment insurance benefits.[21]
  • West Virginia passes law requiring recovery of unemployment insurance overpayments (2021): The West Virginia State Legislature passed House Bill 3294 on April 7, 2021, requiring the West Virginia workforce commissioner to recover fraudulent and non-fraudulent unemployment insurance overpayments to the fullest extent allowable under state and federal laws. The law took effect July 1, 2022.[22]

Reform: Change unemployment insurance felony fraud threshold

This approach argues that states should change the threshold for felony unemployment insurance fraud.

Reform: Require employers to report refusals to work

See also: Refusal of work

This approach argues that states should require employers and prospective employers to report unemployed workers who are offered jobs and refuse or do not accept the offer. Supporters of this approach may also argue that states need to develop simple processes by which employers can quickly and easily report such refusals.

State employer refusal of work reporting activity in effect

This section tracks a selection of state activity related to the creation of mechanisms through which employers can report individuals who refuse employment following a job offer and activity requiring employers to report such refusals to the state:

  • Arkansas governor signs law requiring the Division of Workforce Services to establish a process for employers to report work refusals (2021): Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill April 12, 2021, requiring the Division of Workforce Services (DWS) to establish a process through which employers could report work refusals for the DWS to investigate. The law took effect July 1, 2021.[20]

Other state employer refusal of work reporting activity

This section tracks a selection of state activity related to the creation of mechanisms through which employers can report individuals who refuse employment following a job offer and activity requiring employers to report such refusals to the state that were unsuccessful, that were blocked after passage, or that had not yet been passed into law as of the last update:

Reform: Strengthen work search activity requirements

See also: Work search activity

This approach argues that states should require claimants to report more work search activities, such as filling out job applications or attending interviews, to the state each week to remain eligible for benefits. Supporters of this approach argue that existing work search activity requirements in some states are not rigorous enough to motivate claimants to find employment.

Work search strengthening activity in effect

  • Changes to Idaho unemployment insurance work search requirements take effect in July (2024): The Idaho Department of Labor issued a press release on May 15, 2024, instructing Idaho unemployment insurance claimants to complete and report five work search-related activities per week starting July 7, 2024, to receive benefits. The IDOL issued the press release in response to the passage of HB 686, which Gov. Brad Little (R) signed in March 2024. Claimants were required to report two work search requirements before the law went into effect.[27]

Other work search strengthening activity

This section tracks a selection of state reform activity related to strengthening work search activity requirements that were unsuccessful, that were blocked after passage, or that had not yet been passed into law as of the last update:

  • Kansas House introduces bill strengthening work search requirements (2024): The Kansas House of Representatives introduced House Bill 2570 on January 23, 2024, which proposed, among other provisions, requiring prospective employers to disclose the identities of applicants who miss job interviews without notification and creating an audit process for work search activities in the state's unemployment insurance information technology system.[28]
  • Iowa Senate advances unemployment insurance bill proposing additional work search requirements (2023): The Iowa Senate advanced a bill on February 28, 2023, that proposed tying the number of work search activities an unemployed worker needed to perform per week to remain eligible for benefits to the number of job openings in his or her area. The bill proposed requiring workers to perform six work search activities per week when a large number of job openings were available and four work searches per week when few job openings were available.[18]

Reform: Maintain unemployment insurance program integrity through the national Integrity Data Hub

See also: Integrity Data Hub (unemployment insurance)

This approach argues that state workforce agencies or the agencies that administer the unemployment insurance program in a state should be required to use resources provided by the national Integrity Data Hub—a tool that provides state agencies that administer unemployment insurance programs with cross-matching verification options to help facilitate fraud identification.

State-level activity in effect related to the national Integrity Data Hub

This section lists a selection of state activity requiring state workforce agencies to participate in the Integrity Data Hub and use its datasets and other resources in verifying the legitimacy of unemployment insurance claims:

  • Wisconsin announces participation in Integrity Data Hub (2022): The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced August 8, 2022, that the state was participating in the National Association of State Workforce Agencies' Integrity Data Hub. The state said the partnership would allow expanded cross-checks for unemployment insurance claims against lists of suspicious claims from other states, lists of suspicious email domains, lists of foreign IP addresses, and other data sets that could help identify potentially fraudulent claims.[29] The DWD also said the state would have access to IDH's centralized identity verification service, Fraud Alert System, and bank account verification system.[29]
  • Illinois announces participation in Integrity Data Hub (2021): The Illinois Department of Employment Security started using the Integrity Data Hub to screen and verify the legitimacy of unemployment insurance in September 2021.[30]
  • Alabama State Legislature enacts law requiring state participation with Integrity Data Hub (2021): The Alabama State Legislature enacted a law May 4, 2021, requiring the Department of Labor (DOL) to use the Integrity Data Hub's databases and cross-check tools to help identify fraudulent unemployment insurance claims.[19]
  • Arkansas enacts law requiring state participation with Integrity Data Hub (2021): Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill April 12, 2021, requiring the Division of Workforce Services (DWS) to use national databases from the Integrity Data Hub or a similar service to check for fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, effective January 1, 2022.[20]

Reform: Expand unemployment insurance eligibility to striking workers

This approach argues that states should allow workers who have been on strike for a certain amount of time to claim unemployment insurance benefits until the strike ends.

  • Washington governor signs bill extending unemployment benefits to striking workers (2025): Washington Governor Bob Ferguson (D) signed a bill May 19, 2025 that allows workers on strike or affected by a lockout to claim unemployment insurance benefits for up to six weeks after a prescribed waiting period.[31]
  • California governor vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers (2023): California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a bill September 30, 2023, that proposed allowing workers to claim unemployment insurance benefits after striking for two weeks. Legislators had passed the bill September 14, 2023.[32]

Reform: Reduce unemployment insurance taxes

This approach argues that states should reduce the unemployment insurance taxes on employers.

  • South Dakota unemployment insurance tax cut takes effect (2024): South Dakota House Bill 1011, which decreases the state unemployment tax rate for employers by 0.5%, took effect Jan. 1, 2024. The state estimates businesses will save about $18 million in taxes in 2024 under the new law. Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed the bill on Feb. 1, 2023. The state Senate passed the bill 30-3 on Jan. 25, 2023, and the state House passed the bill 70-0 on Jan. 18, 2023.[34]

Reform: Require employers to pay unemployment insurance taxes for independent contractors

This approach argues that states should require employers to pay unemployment insurance taxes for employees classified as independent contractors.

  • Illinois law requiring unemployment insurance taxes for contractors takes effect (2024): Illinois House Bill 3301 took effect on January 1, 2024, amending Illinois' Unemployment Insurance Act to update the definition of a newly hired employee to include independent contractors. The updated definition requires employers to pay state unemployment insurance taxes for contractors. House Bill 3301 passed the Illinois House on March 22, 2023, and the Senate on May 10, 2023. Both votes were unanimous. Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the bill on July 28, 2023.[35]

Reform activity by state

This section contains state unemployment insurance reform activity organized by state. To jump to a state, click the list below:

Alabama

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Alabama:

  • Alabama enacts law requiring unemployment insurance overpayment recovery (2021): The Alabama State Legislature enacted a law May 4, 2021, requiring the Department of Labor (DOL) to recover unemployment insurance overpayments unless doing so would violate state or federal laws. The law also required the DOL to maintain a record of any excepting cases in which overpayment recovery was not possible or not attempted.[19]
  • Alabama State Legislature enacts law requiring state participation with Integrity Data Hub (2021): The Alabama State Legislature enacted a law May 4, 2021, requiring the Department of Labor (DOL) to use the Integrity Data Hub's databases and cross-check tools to help identify fraudulent unemployment insurance claims.[19]

Alaska

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Arizona

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Arizona:

  • Arizona Senate passes unemployment insurance indexing bill (2023): The Arizona State Senate on March 2, 2023, passed a bill 16-14 that proposed indexing the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state's unemployment rate. The bill said unemployed workers could collect a maximum of 12 weeks of benefits when the unemployment rate was 5% or less. The bill proposed capping the maximum benefit length at 20 weeks during times when the unemployment rate was more than 8.5%.[12]

Arkansas

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Arkansas:

  • Three Arkansas unemployment insurance laws take effect (2024): Three unemployment insurance laws in Arkansas went into effect on January 1, 2024. Together, Acts 106, 196, and 587 reduce maximum unemployment insurance benefits, establish the contribution rate of employers, disqualify an individual from receiving benefits under certain circumstances of refusing a job offer or failing to attend a job interview, and require benefit recipients to submit at least five work search contacts per week to continue receiving benefits.[36]
  • Arkansas enacts law requiring state participation with Integrity Data Hub (2021): Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill April 12, 2021, requiring the Division of Workforce Services (DWS) to use national databases from the Integrity Data Hub or a similar service to check for fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, effective January 1, 2022.[20]
  • Arkansas governor signs law requiring the Division of Workforce Services to establish a process for employers to report work refusals (2021): Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill April 12, 2021, requiring the Division of Workforce Services (DWS) to establish a process through which employers could report work refusals for the DWS to investigate. The law took effect July 1, 2021.[20]
  • Arkansas enacts law requiring unemployment insurance overpayment recovery (2021): Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill April 12, 2021, requiring the Division of Workforce Services (DWS) to pursue recovery of fraudulent and nonfraudulent unemployment insurance overpayments to the extent permitted under state and federal law, effective July 1, 2021. The legislation also required the DWS to report on its overpayment recovery efforts and the effects of unemployment insurance fraud on the program to the legislature by December 31, 2023.[20]

California

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in California:

  • California governor vetoes unemployment benefits for individuals residing in the country without legal permission (2024): California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a bill September 28, 2024, that proposed the creation of a permanent program called the Excluded Workers Program that would provide unemployment benefits to individuals working in the country without legal permission.
  • California governor vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers (2023): California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a bill September 30, 2023, that proposed allowing workers to claim unemployment insurance benefits after striking for two weeks.[38]
  • California legislators introduce bill proposing unemployment benefits for striking workers (2023): The California State Assembly advanced a bill in late August 2023 that proposed allowing striking workers to claim unemployment insurance benefits after striking for two weeks. The deadline for introducing new legislation had passed, so legislators rewrote Senate Bill 799, which previously related to corrections and criminal rehabilitation, to propose expanding the state's unemployment insurance availability.[40]

Colorado

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Connecticut

This section tracks unemployment insurance reform activities in Connecticut.

Delaware

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Florida

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Florida:

  • Florida governor signs unemployment insurance indexing bill (2011): Former Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) signed a bill in 2011 indexing the state's unemployment insurance benefits to the unemployment rate, effective January 2012. The bill cut the maximum length of benefits from 26 to 12 weeks during times when the unemployment rate was 5% less. Floridians under the bill were eligible for up to 23 weeks of benefits if the unemployment rate was 10.5% or higher.[41]

Georgia

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Georgia:

  • Georgia indexes unemployment insurance to unemployment rate (2012): The Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 347 in 2012, tying the maximum number of unemployment insurance benefit weeks to the state's unemployment rate. The law took effect July 1, 2012, and set the maximum length of benefits between 14 weeks (during times of low unemployment) and 20 weeks (during times of high unemployment.[42]

Hawaii

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Idaho

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Idaho:

  • Changes to Idaho unemployment insurance work search requirements take effect in July (2024): The Idaho Department of Labor issued a press release on May 15, 2024, instructing Idaho unemployment insurance claimants to complete and report five work search-related activities per week starting July 7, 2024, to receive benefits. Claimants were required to report two work search requirements before the law went into effect. The IDOL issued the press release in response to the passage of HB 686, which Gov. Brad Little (R) signed in March 2024.[27]

Illinois

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Illinois:

  • Illinois law requiring unemployment insurance taxes for contractors takes effect (2024): Illinois House Bill 3301, which amended Illinois' Unemployment Insurance Act to update the definition of a newly hired employee to include independent contractors, took effect Jan. 1, 2024. The updated definition requires employers to pay state unemployment insurance taxes for contractors. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the bill on Jul. 28, 2023. The State House and Senate passed the bill unanimously on Mar. 22, 2023 and May 10, 2023, respectively.[43]

Indiana

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Iowa

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Kansas

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Kansas:

  • Kansas passes law requiring recovery of unemployment overpayments (2021): Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (D) signed a law passed by the Republican-controlled Kansas State Legislature, effective May 13, 2021, that required the Kansas Department of Labor to recover overpaid unemployment insurance benefits.[21]

Kentucky

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Kentucky:

  • Kentucky passes unemployment insurance indexing bill (2022): The Kentucky House and Senate both voted on March 21, 2022, to override Governor Andy Beshear's veto of House Bill 4, which scheduled unemployment insurance indexing to take effect January 1, 2023. The bill established a 12-week maximum benefit period during periods of low unemployment and a 24-week maximum benefit period during times of high unemployment.[44]

Louisiana

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Louisiana:

  • Louisiana governor signs unemployment insurance indexing bill (2024): Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) on June 17, 2024, signed a bill to index the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state's unemployment rate. House Bill 119 reduced the maximum number of benefit weeks to 12 when the unemployment rate was at or below 5%. The bill also capped the maximum benefit length at 20 weeks when the unemployment rate was at or above 8.5%.[1]

Maine

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Maryland

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Massachusetts

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Michigan

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Minnesota

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Minnesota:

Mississippi

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Missouri

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Missouri:

  • Missouri Supreme Court throws out state Senate veto override related to unemployment insurance indexing (2016): The Missouri Supreme Court in July 2016 threw out an unemployment insurance indexing law over a procedural issue with the timing of the state Senate's vote to override Governor Jay Nixon's (D) veto. Republican legislators passed the bill in 2015, but Nixon vetoed the measure. The state House voted to override Nixon's veto days after his action in May 2015. The override process was held up in the state Senate, which did not override the veto until a special veto session in September 2015. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled the state Senate needed to override the veto during the regular legislative session.[46]

Montana

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Nebraska

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Nevada

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

New Hampshire

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

New Jersey

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

New Mexico

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

New York

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

North Carolina

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in North Carolina:

  • North Carolina passes unemployment insurance indexing bill (2013): North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory (R) signed an unemployment insurance indexing bill into law on February 19, 2013, after the legislature passed the legislation the previous week. The bill cut the maximum benefit amount from $535 to $350 and reduced the maximum length of benefits from 26 weeks to between 12 and 20 weeks, depending on the state's unemployment insurance rate.[47]

North Dakota

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Ohio

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Oklahoma

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Oklahoma:

  • Oklahoma governor signs unemployment insurance indexing bill (2022): Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) signed House Bill 1933 into law on May 20, 2022, cutting the maximum length of unemployment insurance benefits from 26 weeks to 16 weeks effective January 1, 2023. The law also provided for the indexing of unemployment insurance benefits starting January 1, 2025, tying the length of benefits to the state's unemployment rate. The indexing system established under the bill was designed to provide shorter periods of benefits during times of low unemployment (with a minimum of 16 weeks) and longer periods of benefits during times of high unemployment (with a maximum of 26 weeks).[48]

Oregon

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Pennsylvania

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Pennsylvania:

Rhode Island

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

South Carolina

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in South Carolina:

  • South Carolina lawmakers advance unemployment insurance indexing bill (2024): South Carolina lawmakers on January 25, 2024, advanced a bill out of committee proposing to index the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state's unemployment rate. House Bill 4710 would reduce the maximum number of benefit weeks to 12 when the unemployment rate is at or below 5.5%. The bill would cap the maximum benefit length at 20 weeks when the unemployment rate is more than 9%.[9]

South Dakota

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in South Dakota:

  • South Dakota decreases state unemployment tax (2024): South Dakota House Bill 1011, which decreases the state unemployment tax rate for employers by 0.5%, took effect Jan. 1, 2024. The state estimates businesses will save about $18 million in taxes in 2024 under the new law. Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed the bill on Feb. 1, 2023. The state Senate passed the bill 30-3 on Jan. 25, 2023, and the state House passed the bill 70-0 on Jan. 18, 2023.[49]

Tennessee

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Tennessee:

  • Tennessee governor signs unemployment insurance indexing bill (2021): Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) signed a bill May 26, 2021, providing for the indexing of unemployment insurance benefits effective December 1, 2023. The law set the minimum number of benefit weeks at 12 when the state's unemployment rate was 5.5% or less. It set the maximum number of benefit weeks at 20 when the state's unemployment rate was 9% or more.[50]

Texas

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Utah

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Vermont

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Virginia

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

Washington

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Washington:

  • Washington governor signs bill extending unemployment benefits to striking workers (2025): Washington Governor Bob Ferguson (D) signed a bill May 19, 2025 that allows workers on strike or affected by a lockout to claim unemployment insurance benefits for up to six weeks after a prescribed waiting period.[31]

West Virginia

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in West Virginia:

  • West Virginia lawmakers consider bills to reduce unemployment insurance benefits (2024): West Virginia lawmakers on February 19, 2024 introduced two bills aiming to adjust unemployment insurance benefits based on the state's unemployment rate and average weekly wage. Senate Bill 840 proposes to decrease the maximum benefit weeks to 12 when the unemployment rate is below 5.5% and cap it at 20 weeks when the rate exceeds 9.0%. Senate Bill 841 seeks to lower the maximum weekly benefit from 66.3% to 55% of the state's average weekly wage, with a cap at $550. Similar bills in previous years passed the Senate but never advanced out of the West Virginia House of Delegates.[8]
  • West Virginia Senate passes bill to require four work search activities per week (2023): The West Virginia State Senate on January 23, 2023, passed a bill 27-5 that said it would require claimants to complete at least four qualifying work search activities per week (such as interviewing or applying for a job).[13]
  • West Virginia Senate passes unemployment insurance indexing bill (2023): The West Virginia State Senate on January 23, 2023, passed a bill 27-5 that provided for the indexing of the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state's unemployment rate. The bill said workers could collect a maximum of 12 weeks of benefits during times when the unemployment rate was below 5.5%. For each 0.5% increase in the unemployment rate, the maximum benefit duration increased by one week under the bill, with a maximum benefit length of 20 weeks during times of high unemployment.[13]
  • West Virginia passes law requiring recovery of unemployment insurance overpayments (2021): The West Virginia State Legislature passed House Bill 3294 on April 7, 2021, requiring the West Virginia workforce commissioner to recover fraudulent and non-fraudulent unemployment insurance overpayments to the fullest extent allowable under state and federal laws. The law took effect July 1, 2022.[22]

Wisconsin

This section tracks a selection of unemployment insurance reform activities in Wisconsin:

  • Wisconsin Assembly passes bill that would require the Division of Workforce Development to establish a process for employers to report work refusals (2023): Wisconsin legislators passed a bill April 25, 2023, that proposed requiring the Division of Workforce Development (DWD) to establish a process through which employers could report work refusals for the DWD to investigate.[26]
  • Wisconsin Assembly passes unemployment insurance indexing bill (2023): Wisconsin legislators passed a bill April 25, 2023, that proposed reducing the maximum number of unemployment insurance benefit weeks to 14 during times when the unemployment rate was at or below 3.5%. The bill also proposed capping the maximum benefit length at 26 weeks during times when the unemployment rate was more than 9%.[26]
  • Wisconsin introduces unemployment insurance indexing bill (2023): Wisconsin legislators introduced a bill April 7, 2023, that proposed reducing the maximum number of unemployment insurance benefit weeks to 14 during times when the unemployment rate was at or below 3.5%. The bill also proposed capping the maximum benefit length at 26 weeks during times when the unemployment rate was more than 9%.[11]
  • Wisconsin introduces bill that would require the Division of Workforce Development to establish a process for employers to report work refusals (2023): Wisconsin legislators introduced a bill April 7, 2023, that proposed requiring the Division of Workforce Development (DWD) to establish a process through which employers could report work refusals for the DWD to investigate.[11]
  • Wisconsin announces participation in Integrity Data Hub (2022): The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced August 8, 2022, that the state was participating in the National Association of State Workforce Agencies' Integrity Data Hub. The state said the partnership would allow expanded cross-checks for unemployment insurance claims against lists of suspicious claims from other states, lists of suspicious email domains, lists of foreign IP addresses, and other data sets that could help identify potentially fraudulent claims.[29] The DWD also said the state would have access to IDH's centralized identity verification service, Fraud Alert System, and bank account verification system.[29]

Wyoming

As of the last update, Ballotpedia had not tracked any reform activity in this state.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 WBRZ, "Gov. Landry signs law to reduce unemployment to 20 weeks, takes effect start of next year, June 17, 2024
  2. ↑ Legiscan, "Oklahoma House Bill 1933," accessed January 8, 2024
  3. ↑ WDRB, "Kentucky unemployment benefits cut in half starting in January, other changes," December 7, 2022
  4. ↑ Tennessee General Assembly, "HB1039," accessed September 1, 2022
  5. ↑ The New York Times, "North Carolina Approves Steep Benefit Cuts for Jobless in Bid to Reduce Debt," February 13, 2013
  6. ↑ Unemployment Info Digest, "How Much Is Unemployment In Ga," accessed October 7, 2022
  7. ↑ CNN Money, "Florida to cut state unemployment benefits," May 10, 2011
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ballotpedia, "West Virginia lawmakers consider bills to reduce unemployment insurance benefits (2024)," accessed February 29, 2024
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 South Carolina General Assembly, "H. 4710," accessed February 5, 2024
  10. ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "HB340," accessed May 15, 2023
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Wisconsin State Journal, "Bill restricting unemployment benefits in Wisconsin revived by Republican lawmakers," accessed April 17, 2023
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Arizona Daily Star, "Arizona lawmakers move to cut length of unemployment benefits," accessed March 7, 2023
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 AP News, "WVa Senate passes bill tightening unemployment benefit rules," accessed January 23, 2023
  14. ↑ St. Louis Public Broadcasting, "Missouri Supreme Court tosses out state Senate vote that cut state's unemployment benefits," July 26, 2016
  15. ↑ Arkansas State Legislature, "HB1430," accessed March 16, 2023
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 West Virginia Legislature, "Senate Bill 841," accessed March 29, 2024
  17. ↑ Ballotpedia, "Nebraska advances bill proposing maximum unemployment insurance benefit period reduction (2024)," accessed February 29, 2024
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Sioux City Journal, "Iowa GOP lawmakers advance bill requiring unemployed to search for more jobs," accessed March 1, 2023
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Legiscan, "Alabama Senate Bill 373 (Prior Session Legislation)," accessed September 6, 2022
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 Arkansas Legislature, "HB1765 as engrossed on 04-05-2021," accessed September 6, 2022
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Kansas Legislature, "Senate Substitute for Substitute for HOUSE BILL No. 2196," accessed October 10, 2022
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 West Virginia Legislature, "WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE," accessed October 10, 2022
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Connecticut General Assembly, "Raised H.B. No. 5270," accessed April 16, 2024
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Pennsylvania General Assembly, "Senate Bill 1109," accessed May 10, 2023
  25. ↑ Fox News, "Wisconsin Governor Evers vetoes unemployment reform, anti-gas ban bills; greenlights crime crackdowns," August 4, 2023
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Assembly passes bills aimed at cutting number of weeks unemployment would be paid in a good economy, tighten eligibility rules," accessed May 1, 2023
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 KHQ, "Idaho creates more requirements for qualifying for unemployment insurance," May 15, 2024
  28. ↑ Kansas State Legislature, "HB 2570," accessed February 12, 2024
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, "Wisconsin DWD Participating in NASWA's Integrity Data Hub to Detect and Prevent Fraud," accessed September 1, 2022
  30. ↑ Fox News via Yahoo News, "Deep-blue state doled out $5.2 billion in 'overpayments' during COVID, gave millions to dead people: audit," accessed August 14, 2023
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Washington State Standard, "Washington will pay unemployment benefits to striking workers," accessed May 22, 2025
  32. ↑ LA Times, "Newsom vetoes bill to give striking workers unemployment benefits," accessed October 2, 2023
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Idaho Legislature, "House Bill 428," accessed March 12, 2024
  34. ↑ SD Legislature, "House Bill 1011," accessed February 7, 2024
  35. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Bill Status of HB3301," accessed February 7, 2024
  36. ↑ Ballotpedia, "Three Arkansas unemployment insurance laws take effect," accessed January 23, 2024
  37. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CAHB1116
  38. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CAveto10223
  39. ↑ LA Times, "Newsom in the hot seat after California passes bill to give striking workers unemployment benefits," accessed September 18, 2023
  40. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "As Hollywood strikes drag on, California lawmakers consider unemployment pay for striking workers," accessed September 5, 2023
  41. ↑ CNN Money, "Florida to cut state unemployment benefits," May 10, 2011
  42. ↑ Unemployment Info Digest, "How Much Is Unemployment In Ga," accessed October 7, 2022
  43. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, " Bill Status of HB3301," accessed January 23, 2024
  44. ↑ WDRB, "Kentucky unemployment benefits cut in half starting in January, other changes," December 7, 2022
  45. ↑ Minnesota House of Representatives, "Workforce panel approves bill extending unemployment insurance to striking workers," accessed March 18, 2024
  46. ↑ St. Louis Public Broadcasting, "Missouri Supreme Court tosses out state Senate vote that cut state's unemployment benefits," July 26, 2016
  47. ↑ The New York Times, "North Carolina Approves Steep Benefit Cuts for Jobless in Bid to Reduce Debt," February 13, 2013
  48. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Oklahoma Legislature cuts unemployment benefits payout period from 26 weeks to 16 weeks," accessed January 25, 2023
  49. ↑ LegiScan, "SSouth Dakota House Bill 1011," accessed January 23, 2024
  50. ↑ Tennessee General Assembly, "HB1039," accessed September 1, 2022
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