Unemployment compensation; increases weekly benefit amounts, report.
Summary
Unemployment compensation; increase weekly benefit amounts; report. Provides that, for unemployment compensation claims effective on or after January 1, 2026, an eligible individual's weekly benefit amount shall be $52 higher than the current weekly benefit amount, as denoted in the table in the printed bill. The bill directs the Commission on Unemployment Compensation, in consultation with the Virginia Employment Commission, to convene a work group to study making annual adjustments to individual weekly benefit amounts based on the average weekly wage. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Unemployment Compensation. This bill is identical to SB 1056.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 5, 2025
Signed Apr 2, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons
What changed between versions
Governor Substitute
→
Chaptered
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Virginia's unemployment compensation benefit tables to increase weekly benefit amounts for workers with higher earnings, effective from January 1, 2026. It also establishes a work group to study annual adjustments to benefit amounts, ensuring future updates align with wage trends.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope by adding new benefit tables that apply to claims effective on or after January 1, 2026, replacing the previous tables that applied until January 1, 2026.
TIMELINE
The effective date for new benefit tables changed from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2026, with the previous tables (effective July 6, 2014, but before January 1, 2026) being replaced.
FISCAL
New benefit tables were added with higher weekly benefit amounts for various wage levels, ranging from $2,750.01 to $3,500.00 in earnings, with corresponding benefit weeks and amounts.
REQUIREMENT
A work group was established to meet quarterly starting by October 1, 2025, to study annual adjustments to weekly benefit amounts, with a completion deadline of July 1, 2026.
The work group must submit an executive summary and report of findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by September 1, 2026.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2025
How they voted
39–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Feb 17, 2025
D
Democratic21
100% Yea
R
Republican19
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
59
Key actions
18
Committee
13
Apr 2, 2025
Signed into law
Governor's recommendation adopted
executive
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (Y-63 N-33 A-0)
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Vetoed
Governor's recommendation received by House
executive
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1766ER)
lower
Feb 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference report agreed to by House (52-Y 47-N)
lower
Feb 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference report agreed to by Senate (27-Y 13-N)
upper
Feb 22, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Amended by conference committee
legislature
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Senate requested conference committee
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (27-Y 13-N)
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (23-Y 16-N)
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 3-N)
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (51-Y 47-N)
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Appropriations (12-Y 10-N)
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
Assigned Approps sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce and referred to Appropriations (12-Y 10-N)
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referred to Appropriations (5-Y 3-N)
lower
Jan 13, 2025
Committee
Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #2
lower
Jan 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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