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H. B. No. 147 *HR26/R633* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Workforce Development;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Hines
HOUSE BILL NO. 147
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-503, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REVISE THE MINIMUM WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT 2
RECEIVES UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 3
71-5-505, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE 4
AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 71-5-503, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
71-5-503. (1) An individual's weekly benefit amount for a 9
benefit year shall be one-twenty-sixth (1/26) of his or her total 10
wages for insured work paid during that quarter of his or her base 11
period in which such total wages were highest, computed to the 12
next lower multiple of One Dollar ($1.00), if not a multiple of 13
One Dollar ($1.00). 14
(2) (a) On or before June 15 of each year, the total wages 15
reported on contribution reports for the preceding calendar year 16
shall be divided by the average monthly number of insured workers 17
(determined by dividing the total insured workers reported on 18
contribution reports pursuant to the regulations of the department 19
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for the preceding year by twelve (12)). The average annual wage 20
thus obtained shall be divided by fifty-two (52) and the average 21
weekly wage thus determined rounded to the nearest cent. 22
(b) Sixty percent (60%) of this amount, rounded to the 23
nearest dollar, shall constitute the maximum "weekly benefit 24
amount" paid to any individual whose benefit year commences on or 25
after July 1 of such year and prior to July 1 of the next 26
following year * * *. 27
(c) The minimum weekly benefit amount for the 28
individual shall be * * * the following: 29
(i) For wages totaling more than One Hundred 30
Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) 31
per week; 32
(ii) For wages totaling more than Seventy-five 33
Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) but not more than One Hundred 34
Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars 35
($750.00) per week; 36
(iii) For wages totaling more than Fifty Thousand 37
Dollars ($50,000.00) but not more than Seventy-five Thousand 38
Dollars ($75,000.00), Six Hundred Fifty Dollars ($650.00) per 39
week; 40
(iv) For wages totaling more than Twenty-five 41
Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand 42
Dollars ($50,000.00), Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per week; and 43
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(v) For wages totaling Twenty-five Thousand 44
Dollars ($25,000.00) or less, Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) 45
per week. 46
(d) If an individual's weekly benefit amount would 47
compute to less than the * * * minimum, then such individual * * * 48
shall not be entitled to * * * any benefits. 49
(3) An individual's weekly benefit amount, as determined at 50
the beginning of his or her benefit year, shall constitute his or 51
her weekly benefit amount throughout such benefit year. 52
* * * 53
SECTION 2. Section 71-5-505, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 54
brought forward as follows: 55
71-5-505. (1) For weeks beginning on or after July 1, 1991, 56
each eligible individual who is totally unemployed or part totally 57
unemployed in any week shall be paid with respect to such week a 58
benefit in an amount equal to his weekly benefit amount less that 59
part of his wages, if any, payable to him with respect to such 60
week which is in excess of Forty Dollars ($40.00). Such 61
individuals must have been totally unemployed or part totally 62
unemployed for a waiting period of one (1) week during which he 63
earned less than his weekly benefit amount plus Forty Dollars 64
($40.00). Such benefit for a benefit year effective on or after 65
October 1, 1983, if not a multiple of One Dollar ($1.00), shall be 66
computed to the next lower multiple of One Dollar ($1.00). 67
Provided, however, that remuneration for "inactive duty training" 68
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ST: Unemployment compensation; revise weekly
benefit amount for.
or "unit training assembly" payable to such eligible individual 69
who is a member of any of the reserve components, or remuneration 70
for jury duty pursuant to a lawfully issued summons therefor 71
payable to such eligible individual, shall not be considered wages 72
which serve to reduce the otherwise payable benefit amount. 73
In determining whether an eligible individual is unemployed 74
during a week, the date of commencing a shift shall determine the 75
week for which the earnings are deducted. 76
(2) However, the one-week waiting period described herein 77
shall be waived if the President of the United States declares a 78
major disaster with regard to individual assistance in accordance 79
with Section 401 of The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 80
Emergency Assistance Act. The department, in its discretion, 81
shall have the authority to noncharge an employer account for any 82
benefits paid for unemployment due directly to such disaster, but 83
only in those counties and/or areas identified by the disaster 84
area for individual assistance. 85
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 86
and after July 1, 2026. 87