Bill > HB542

This bill updates the weekly benefit amount and maximum total benefits for unemployment compensation in New Hampshire by establishing a comprehensive sliding scale based on an individual's annual earnings. Under the new provisions, to qualify for unemployment benefits, an individual must have earned at least $1,400 in each of two calendar quarters during a benefit year. The bill creates a detailed table that links annual earnings to both weekly benefit amounts and maximum total benefits, ranging from a minimum of $32 weekly and $832 in total benefits for individuals earning $2,800 annually, to a maximum of $669 weekly and $17,394 in total benefits for those earning $65,000 annually. This approach allows for more precise and graduated unemployment compensation that more closely reflects an individual's prior earnings, potentially providing more equitable support for workers who lose their jobs. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, and while a complete fiscal impact assessment is pending, it represents a significant update to the state's unemployment compensation framework.

Labor and Employment

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=379&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB542