Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1405: Unemployment benefits; align duration with statewide unemployment rate.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO MAKE CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS RELATING TO MISSISSIPPI'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM AND BENEFIT DURATION; TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-507, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AN INDIVIDUAL MAY RECEIVE BY ALIGNING THE DURATION WITH THE STATEWIDE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE; TO UTILIZE THE AVERAGE, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE STATE FOR THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE MONTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S FIRST CLAIM TO DETERMINE THE INDIVIDUAL'S MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKLY BENEFITS AVAILABLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to make certain legislative findings relating to mississippi's unemployment insurance program and benefit duration; to amend section 71-5-507, mississippi code of 1972, to revise the maximum number of weekly unemployment benefits an individual may receive by aligning the duration with the statewide unemployment rate; to utilize the average, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the state for the three months preceding the month of an individual's first claim to determine the individual's maximum number of weekly benefits available; and for related purposes.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO MAKE CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS RELATING TO MISSISSIPPI'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM AND BENEFIT DURATION; TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-507, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AN INDIVIDUAL MAY RECEIVE BY ALIGNING THE DURATION WITH THE STATEWIDE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE; TO UTILIZE THE AVERAGE, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE STATE FOR THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE MONTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S FIRST CLAIM TO DETERMINE THE INDIVIDUAL'S MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKLY BENEFITS AVAILABLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature finds and declares the following: (a) A strong labor force participation rate is essential to the economic growth, stability and competitiveness of the State of Mississippi. (b) Employers across Mississippi experience varying workforce needs depending upon economic conditions, including periods in which job opportunities are readily available. (c) Mississippi's unemployment insurance system should be responsive to changing labor market conditions in order to both support individuals who are temporarily unemployed and encourage *HR43/R1983* H. B. No. 1405 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR43/R1983 PAGE 1 (RKM\KP) timely reentry into the workforce when employment opportunities exist. (d) Aligning the duration of unemployment benefits with the statewide unemployment rate promotes workforce engagement while preserving a meaningful safety net during periods of higher unemployment. (2) …