Unemployment benefits; increase weekly benefit amount.
Summary
Unemployment benefits; increase weekly benefit amount. Provides that, for unemployment compensation claims effective on or after July 1, 2026, an eligible individual's weekly benefit amount shall be $48 higher than the current weekly benefit amount, as denoted in the table in the printed bill. This bill is identical to HB 1320.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 19, 2026
Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Finance and Appropriations Substitute
→
Enrolled
·
3 edits
·
Apr 13, 2026
MINOR
This bill finalizes the transition of Virginia's unemployment benefit structure by updating the effective dates in the statute to match the enacted timeline. The primary change is the removal of a placeholder instruction to see printed tables for the 2026 period, replacing it with the actual enacted text that establishes new weekly benefit amounts starting July 1, 2026. This ensures the law accurately reflects the approved financial changes for future claimants.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on unemployment benefits, but the specific dates triggering new benefit calculations were finalized to align with the enrolled version of the act.
TECHNICAL
Removed the instruction to see printed tables for the 2026 benefit period, as the specific amounts were finalized in the enrolled version.
Updated the bill header from 'Senate Substitute' to 'Enrolled' to reflect that the legislation has been approved and signed into law.
TIMELINE
Added the specific text for the new benefit period starting July 1, 2026, which was previously missing or placeholder in the substitute version.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 12, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
31
Key actions
11
Committee
7
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 775 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB759ER)
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 1-N)
upper
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
Jan 19, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26103436D
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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