Labor & Employment (Unemployment)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 1687: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for rate and amount of compensation.

HB 1687 amends Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation Law to change how the maximum number of weeks an unemployed worker can receive benefits is calculated. It bases the maximum weeks (ranging from 12 to 20) on the seasonal adjusted statewide unemployment rate from the six months preceding the claim application date, using the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This directly affects Pennsylvania workers filing for unemployment benefits on or after the effective date, as their benefit duration will now adjust based on current statewide unemployment rates. The bill specifies that total benefits in a single year cannot exceed the weekly benefit amount multiplied by the weeks determined under this new formula. The change takes effect six months after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill adjusts unemployment benefit duration based on current unemployment rate, extending weeks during high joblessness (up to 20 weeks), directly expanding worker support during economic hardship.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 1692: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in contributions by employers and employees, further providing for relief from charges; and, in compensation, further providing for ineligibility for compensation and providing for eligibility related to domestic violence.

HB 1692 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to protect workers facing domestic violence and clarify employer cost relief. It adds a new provision (Section 402.7) stating workers who leave jobs due to domestic violence safety risks cannot be disqualified for unemployment benefits. The bill also revises existing rules to provide employers relief from extra charges when workers are separated for reasons like willful misconduct or certain discharges. These changes directly affect Pennsylvania workers seeking unemployment benefits and employers paying into the unemployment fund.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds Section 402.7 protecting domestic violence victims from unemployment disqualification, expanding worker benefit access per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 1688: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for rate and amount of compensation.

HB 1688 updates Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to adjust the calculation method for weekly benefit amounts. It sets a minimum weekly benefit of $68 (previously lower) and revises the wage-to-benefit table, linking higher average quarterly wages to increased weekly payments (e.g., wages of $1,688-$1,712 now yield $68 weekly). This directly affects unemployed Pennsylvania workers who qualify for state unemployment benefits, ensuring their payments align with current wage levels. The bill modifies specific sections of the 1936 law governing benefit rates without changing eligibility rules or employer contributions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases minimum weekly unemployment benefits to $68 and links higher wages to increased payments, strengthening worker financial support under unemployment compensation law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage Unemployment Workers' Compensation

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 1691: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for qualifications required to secure compensation.

HB 1691 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to adjust the earnings requirement for workers seeking benefits after certain job separations. It increases the required earnings from six to fifteen times the weekly benefit rate in the 10 weeks following a disqualifying separation (e.g., quitting for personal reasons or being terminated). The bill also adds a provision exempting workers who took a leave of absence and made reasonable efforts to return to work. This change directly affects unemployed workers who left jobs under disqualifying circumstances but meet the new earnings threshold. The bill takes effect six months after enactment.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentIncreases earnings requirement from 6x to 15x weekly benefit rate, restricting unemployment benefit access for workers after disqualifying separations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 15, 2025

HB 145: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for ineligibility for compensation.

HB 145 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to clarify when workers lose eligibility for benefits. It directly affects claimants who voluntarily leave jobs, adding specific protections: workers cannot be disqualified for leaving due to disability if suitable work is available, for joining or staying in a union, or to accompany a military spouse relocating due to active duty orders. The bill defines "suitable employment" as work requiring similar skills and paying at least 80% of a worker's previous average weekly wage. These changes aim to prevent unfair disqualifications while maintaining the law's core purpose of providing benefits to eligible unemployed workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds protections preventing disqualification for leaving jobs due to disability (suitable work available), union activity, or military spouse relocation - strengthens unemployment eligibility under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill protects unemployment benefits for workers leaving jobs to accompany military spouses relocating due to active duty orders, supporting military-connected families and veterans' support systems.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Unemployment Military Families

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 15, 2025

SR 174: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to establish a centralized, secure and streamlined national database or comparable system to share wage, employment, unemployment compensation and other relevant eligibility data with the states.

SR 174 is a non-binding resolution urging Congress to create a centralized national system for sharing wage, employment, unemployment compensation, and related eligibility data with states. It directly affects state agencies that administer programs like unemployment benefits, as they would receive standardized data to determine applicant eligibility. The resolution proposes a secure, streamlined federal database to replace current fragmented state-level data collection. This is a procedural request to Congress, not a law that would change existing policies or programs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill proposes centralized data system to streamline unemployment benefits eligibility processing, improving state agency efficiency in administering worker benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 176: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, providing for eligibility related to domestic violence.

SB 176 amends Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation Law to create a new eligibility exception for individuals who leave work due to domestic violence threatening their safety or their family's safety. This directly affects domestic violence survivors who might otherwise be disqualified from unemployment benefits for voluntarily quitting or failing to attend work. The bill allows applicants to verify domestic violence through protective orders, professional statements, or a self-affirmation (with documentation required within 120 days), while ensuring all records remain confidential and cannot be disclosed to employers. The Department of Labor must expedite eligibility determinations for qualifying applicants and provide automatic relief from employer benefit charges.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates new unemployment eligibility for domestic violence survivors, protecting workers' rights by preventing disqualification for leaving unsafe work.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House May 12, 2025

HB 265: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for benefits based on service for educational institutions.

HB 265 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to change eligibility rules for workers at educational institutions, such as teachers or staff employed on a term-by-term basis. It removes a prior requirement that these workers must prove they would not return to the same institution for the next academic term to receive benefits during breaks between terms. This change applies to service performed after the bill's effective date and aligns with federal guidelines (26 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(6)). The bill directly affects temporary and part-time employees in schools and colleges who experience academic breaks.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves barriers for educational staff to access unemployment benefits, supporting educator welfare and aligning with federal guidelines.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves requirement preventing term-based educational workers from accessing unemployment benefits, expanding eligibility per federal guidelines (26 U.S.C. § 3304(a).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 29, 2025

SB 153: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for ineligibility for compensation.

SB 153 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to clarify when unemployed workers may lose benefits. It adds specific rules making workers ineligible if they unreasonably discourage their own hiring - such as skipping job interviews without good cause or refusing referrals before discussing job details. Employers can now report such behavior to the state, and the Department of Labor must create forms for this process within 90 days. The bill directly affects workers claiming unemployment benefits by tightening eligibility standards around job search efforts.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts unemployment benefits by making workers ineligible for skipping interviews/referrals without cause, weakening access to compensation under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 30, 2026

SB 743: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in administration of act, further providing for State Unemployment Compensation Advisory Counsel.

SB 743 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to require the Department of Labor and Industry to submit an annual report by March 1st evaluating the unemployment fund's financial health. The report must include specific, detailed unemployment statistics - such as the percentage of long-term unemployed individuals, job losers, discouraged workers, and marginally attached workers relative to the civilian labor force. This requirement applies directly to the state department, which must also post the report online. The bill does not change benefit eligibility or funding but adds standardized data collection for transparency and program oversight. (This is a procedural reporting change, not a substantive policy shift.)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires annual unemployment fund health reports with detailed stats, strengthening oversight of worker benefits under unemployment compensation law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track