Bill > SB515

Introduced Session

EMPLOYMENT This bill makes changes regarding the amount of unemployment insurance benefits that a claimant may receive in a given week, as follows: Increasing maximum weekly unemployment benefits Under current law, a person who qualifies for unemployment insurance receives a weekly benefit rate equal to a percentage of that person[s past earnings, but the weekly benefit rate is capped at $370. This bill changes the maximum weekly benefit rate in the following ways: 1. For benefits paid for weeks of unemployment beginning on or after January 4, 2026, but before January 3, 2027, the maximum weekly benefit rate is capped at $497. 2. For benefits paid for weeks of unemployment beginning on or after January 3, 2027, the maximum weekly benefit rate is increased based upon the change in the consumer price index and is then increased on the same basis annually thereafter. LRB-4662/1 MED:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 515 Increasing unemployment insurance benefit wage cap Under current law, a person who qualifies for unemployment insurance is ineligible to receive any UI benefits for a week if the person receives or will receive wages or certain other earnings totalling more than $500 (wage cap). This bill changes the wage cap in the following ways: 1. For weeks of unemployment beginning on or after January 4, 2026, but before January 3, 2027, the wage cap is increased to $672. 2. For weeks of unemployment beginning on or after January 3, 2027, the wage cap is increased based upon the change in the consumer price index and is then increased on the same basis annually thereafter. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D)*,  Jodi Habush Sinykin (D)*,  Dianne Hesselbein (D)*,  LaTonya Johnson (D)*,  Sarah Keyeski (D)*,  Chris Larson (D)*,  Melissa Ratcliff (D)*,  Kelda Roys (D)*,  Mark Spreitzer (D)*,  Clint Anderson (D),  Margaret Arney (D),  Mike Bare (D),  Brienne Brown (D),  Ryan Clancy (D),  Ben DeSmidt (D),  Joan Fitzgerald (D),  Francesca Hong (D),  Andrew Hysell (D),  Alex Joers (D),  Tara Johnson (D),  Karen Kirsch (D),  Darrin Madison (D),  Maureen McCarville (D),  Vincent Miresse (D),  Supreme Moore Omokunde (D),  Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D),  Ann Roe (D),  Shelia Stubbs (D),  Lisa Subeck (D),  Angelito Tenorio (D),  Randy Udell (D), 

Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor (on 01/09/2026)

Official Document