New Hampshire HB 1767: relative to unemployment compensation eligibility and weekly benefit amounts.

Bill Text

HB 1767-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2762

 06/08

HOUSE BILL 1767-FN

AN ACT relative to unemployment compensation eligibility and weekly benefit amounts.

SPONSORS: Rep. Avellani, Carr. 4; Rep. Labrie, Hills. 2; Rep. Drago, Rock. 4

COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

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ANALYSIS

 This bill sets the default maximum duration of unemployment benefits at 20 weeks, with an automatic increase to 26 weeks during periods of elevated statewide claims, and requires the department of employment security to monitor filings and publicly update eligibility status.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2762

 06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to unemployment compensation eligibility and weekly benefit amounts.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Weekly Benefit Amount for Total Unemployment. RSA 282-A:25 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

 282-A:25 Weekly Benefit Amount for Total Unemployment.

 I. The maximum number of weeks of unemployment compensation benefits for which an individual may be eligible in a benefit year shall be 20.

 II. If, for any 3 consecutive weeks, the number of weekly unemployment claims filed statewide exceeds 4,000 per week, the maximum number of weeks in paragraph I shall increase to 26 beginning with the following week. If, for any 3 consecutive weeks thereafter, the number of weekly unemployment claims becomes less than or equal to 4,000 per week, the maximum number of weeks shall revert to 20 beginning with the following week.

 III. The department of employment security shall monitor weekly filings, notify the public of any changes to the maximum number of eligible benefit weeks, and update all public notices, informational materials, and online systems accordingly.

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 LBA

 26-2762

 Revised 1/12/26

HB 1767-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to unemployment compensation eligibility and weekly benefit amounts.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

 Revenue Fund(s)

Unemployment Trust Fund

 Expenditures*

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

 Funding Source(s)

Unemployment Trust Fund

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 County Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill changes unemployment compensation eligibility by reducing the maximum duration of benefits from 26 weeks to 20 weeks, with an automatic increase back to 26 weeks during periods of elevated statewide unemployment claims. The bill also requires the Department of Employment Security to monitor weekly claims activity and notify the public when the maximum number of eligible benefit weeks changes.

The Department of Employment Security states the fiscal impact of this bill is indeterminable. The bill repeals and reenacts RSA 282-A:25 but does not include the statutory benefit table that currently establishes maximum weekly benefit amounts based on a claimant’s prior earnings. Without this table, the Department would have no clear statutory authority to calculate or administer weekly benefit amounts, and therefore cannot estimate benefit payments, system impacts, or administrative costs.

In addition, the bill would allow the maximum number of benefit weeks to fluctuate between 20 and 26 weeks based on weekly statewide claims data. The Department states it cannot predict how often claims will exceed or fall below the statutory threshold, how frequently benefit durations would change within a year, or how those changes would affect total benefit payments, employer reimbursement obligations, or unemployment tax rates.

Because the necessary benefit table is missing and future claims levels are uncertain, the Department cannot determine whether the bill would increase or decrease unemployment compensation payments, Trust Fund balances, or employer tax rates. As a result, the fiscal impact to state revenues and expenditures is indeterminable.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Employment Secur