The House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee advanced legislation Thursday to make some updates to the state’s unemployment system.
In 2022, the Kentucky General Assembly approved House Bill 4, which changed the length of unemployment insurance benefits and the job search requirements for recipients. The length of benefits is now based on the state’s average unemployment rate, and recipients are required to engage in at least five verifiable work search activities a week.
House Bill 146 makes some technical updates to last year’s House Bill 4 with the most notable change being claimants would receive 16 weeks of benefits instead of 12 weeks when the unemployment rate is at 4.5 percent, beginning July 1.
The House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee approved House Bill 146 unanimously. It will now go before the full House for consideration.