Unemployment compensation; increase maximum weekly benefit amount.

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

By: Representative Bell (21st)

HOUSE BILL NO. 337

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-503, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT TO TWO HUNDRED 2
SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 71-5-507, 3
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; 4
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. An individual's weekly benefit amount for a 9
benefit year shall be one-twenty-sixth (1/26) of his total wages 10
for insured work paid during that quarter of his base period in 11
which such total wages were highest, computed to the next lower 12
multiple of One Dollar ($1.00), if not a multiple of One Dollar 13
($1.00). 14
On or before June 15 of each year, the total wages reported 15
on contribution reports for the preceding calendar year shall be 16
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. Sixty 22
percent (60%) of this amount, rounded to the nearest dollar, shall 23
constitute the maximum "weekly benefit amount" paid to any 24
individual whose benefit year commences on or after July 1 of such 25
year and prior to July 1 of the next following year; provided 26
however, that the maximum weekly benefit amount shall not 27
exceed * * * Two Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($275.00) for any 28
benefit year that begins on or after July 1, * * * 2026. The 29
minimum weekly benefit amount for the individual shall be Thirty 30
Dollars ($30.00). If an individual's weekly benefit amount would 31
compute to less than the said minimum, then such individual would 32
be entitled to no benefits. 33
An individual's weekly benefit amount, as determined at the 34
beginning of his benefit year, shall constitute his weekly benefit 35
amount throughout such benefit year. 36
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security, with the 37
assistance of the United States Department of Labor, is directed 38
to generate actuarially sound models for computation of weekly 39
benefit amounts. Such models shall include scenarios for 40
increasing the weekly benefit amounts at each increment from the 41
minimum to the maximum amount and the impact such increments would 42
have on the Unemployment Compensation Fund. Such report shall be 43
H. B. No. 337 *HR26/R876* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Unemployment compensation; increase maximum
weekly benefit amount.
provided to the Mississippi Legislature on or before December 31, 44
2008. 45
SECTION 2. Section 71-5-507, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 46
brought forward as follows: 47
71-5-507. Any otherwise eligible individual shall be 48
entitled during any benefit year to a total amount of regular 49
benefits equal to twenty-six (26) times his weekly benefit amount 50
or one-third (1/3) of his total wages for insured work paid during 51
his base period, whichever is the lesser. Provided, that for a 52
benefit year effective prior to October 1, 1983, if such total 53
amount of benefits is not a multiple of One Dollar ($1.00), it 54
shall be computed to the next higher multiple of One Dollar 55
($1.00); and for a benefit year effective on or after October 1, 56
1983, if such total amount of benefits is not a multiple of One 57
Dollar ($1.00), it shall be computed to the next lower multiple of 58
One Dollar ($1.00). An individual's total amount of regular 59
benefits as determined at the beginning of his benefit year shall 60
constitute his total amount of regular benefits throughout such 61
benefit year. 62
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 63
and after July 1, 2026. 64