Unemployment benefits; align duration with statewide unemployment rate.

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To: Workforce Development;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Burch

HOUSE BILL NO. 1405

AN ACT TO MAKE CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS RELATING TO 1
MISSISSIPPI'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM AND BENEFIT DURATION; 2
TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-507, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE 3
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AN INDIVIDUAL MAY 4
RECEIVE BY ALIGNING THE DURATION WITH THE STATEWIDE UNEMPLOYMENT 5
RATE; TO UTILIZE THE AVERAGE, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT 6
RATE FOR THE STATE FOR THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE MONTH OF AN 7
INDIVIDUAL'S FIRST CLAIM TO DETERMINE THE INDIVIDUAL'S MAXIMUM 8
NUMBER OF WEEKLY BENEFITS AVAILABLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 10
SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature finds and declares the 11
following: 12
(a) A strong labor force participation rate is 13
essential to the economic growth, stability and competitiveness of 14
the State of Mississippi. 15
(b) Employers across Mississippi experience varying 16
workforce needs depending upon economic conditions, including 17
periods in which job opportunities are readily available. 18
(c) Mississippi's unemployment insurance system should 19
be responsive to changing labor market conditions in order to both 20
support individuals who are temporarily unemployed and encourage 21
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timely reentry into the workforce when employment opportunities 22
exist. 23
(d) Aligning the duration of unemployment benefits with 24
the statewide unemployment rate promotes workforce engagement 25
while preserving a meaningful safety net during periods of higher 26
unemployment. 27
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature to modernize 28
Mississippi's unemployment insurance program by linking benefit 29
duration to objective, publicly reported economic data, thereby 30
incentivizing employment, supporting workers during economic 31
downturns, and ensuring responsible stewardship of unemployment 32
insurance resources. 33
SECTION 2. Section 71-5-507, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 34
amended as follows: 35
71-5-507. * * * (1) The maximum number of weekly benefits a 36
claimant may be eligible for in a benefit year is determined using 37
the average, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the state 38
for the three (3) months preceding the month in which the claimant 39
files the first claim of a benefit year. The following defines 40
the maximum number of weekly benefits available based upon the 41
average statewide unemployment rate, as determined by the 42
department in accordance with subsection (2) of this section: 43
(a) When the average unemployment rate is five percent 44
(5%) or less, twelve (12) times the weekly benefit amount. 45
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ST: Unemployment benefits; align duration with
statewide unemployment rate.
(b) When the average unemployment rate is more than 46
five percent (5%) but not more than seven percent (7%), sixteen 47
(16) times the weekly benefit amount. 48
(c) When the average unemployment rate is more than 49
seven percent (7%) but not more than ten percent (10%), twenty 50
(20) times the weekly benefit amount. 51
(d) When the average unemployment rate is more than ten 52
percent (10%), twenty-six (26) times the weekly benefit amount. 53
(2) In calculating the average unemployment rate for the 54
purpose of determining benefit duration under subsection (1) of 55
this section, the department shall use publicly reported, 56
seasonally adjusted unemployment rate figures for the state. On a 57
monthly basis, the department shall publish on its website the 58
applicable average unemployment rate and the maximum number of 59
weekly benefits available for claimants who file an initial claim 60
for unemployment benefits in that month. 61
(3) An individual's total amount of regular benefits, as 62
determined at the beginning of the individual's benefit year, 63
constitutes the total amount of regular benefits available to the 64
individual throughout that benefit year. 65
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 66
and after July 1, 2026. 67