Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB2542: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-7-303, relative to suitable work requirements.
Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary Present law disqualifies an applicant for unemployment benefits if the administrator finds that the applicant failed without good cause to apply for or accept suitable work. Suitable work is determined by evaluating the risk involved to the claimant's health, their prior earnings, and the distance of the available work from the applicant's residence. Work is deemed suitable if the gross weekly wages equal or exceed the following sliding scale of the claimant's high-quarter wages: (i) 100% during the first 13 weeks of unemployment; (ii) 75% for weeks 14 through 25; (iii) 70% for weeks 26 through 38; and (iv) 65% after the 38th week. This bill alters the criteria for maintaining benefit eligibility by removing the specific mathematical, wage-based sliding scale protections. Under this bill, a claimant is disqualified if the administrator finds the claimant failed without good cause to apply for or accept suitable work, which is now determined solely by considering all of the following: (i) the degree of risk involved to the claimant's health, safety, and morals; (ii) the claimant's physical fitness and prior training; and (iii) their experience and prior earnings. This bill also removes the statutory minimum wage that work must meet to be deemed suitable to receive unemployment benefits. STUDENTS AND VETERANS The present sliding scale affects eligibility conditions for students, who become ineligible if they refuse the same job previously held if that job meets the standards for suitable work as required by applicable federal law. Similarly, a veteran enrolled in school under the federal G.I. Bill must not be denied benefits solely for school attendance, but they become ineligible if they refuse an offer for the same job they held subsequent to receiving unemployment benefits if the of
What the bill says
An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-7-303, relative to suitable work requirements.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-7-303, relative to suitable work requirements. SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-7-303(a)(3)(A), is amended by deleting subdivisions (i)-(iv) and deleting "Work is suitable if the work meets all the other criteria of this subdivision (a)(3) and if the gross weekly wages for the work equal or exceed the following percentages of the claimant's average weekly wage for insured work paid to the claimant during that quarter of the claimant's base period in which the claimant's wages were highest:". SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. HB2542
Sponsors
- Lamberth, William (R, 44) · primary sponsor
- Cochran, Mark (R, 23)
- Reneau, Michele (R, 27)
- Bricken, Rush (R, 47)
- White, Mark (R, 83)
Latest actions
- : Effective date(s) 05/21/2026
- : Pub. Ch. 1043
- : Signed by Governor.
- : Transmitted to Governor for his action.
- : Signed by Senate Speaker
- : Signed by H. Speaker
- : Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
- : Passed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 6
- : Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
- : Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
Votes
- FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration (April 21, 2026): 27 yea, 6 nay, passed
- SENATE COMMERCE AND LABOR COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee (April 7, 2026): 8 yea, 1 nay, passed
- FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION (March 12, 2026): 70 yea, 15 nay, passed
- HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee (March 4, 2026): 22 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE BANKING AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee (February 18, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Archives, Publications, My Bills
Common questions
- What is HB2542?
- HB2542 is a bill in the Tennessee Legislature (114th General Assembly): AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-7-303, relative to suitable work requirements.
- What does HB2542 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-7-303, relative to suitable work requirements.
- What is the status of HB2542?
- Chaptered as of May 27, 2026. Latest action: Effective date(s) 05/21/2026 (May 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2542?
- Lamberth, William (R, 44), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2542?
- On the Tennessee Legislature website: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB2542&GA=114
Source: official Tennessee record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.