I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4439 
To modernize unemployment compensation benefits. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 16, 2025 
Mr. BEYER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To modernize unemployment compensation benefits. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Recession 
Readiness Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—MODERNIZATION OF EXTENDED BENEFITS 
Sec. 101. Full Federal funding of extended unemployment compensation. 
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Sec. 102. Improving the extended benefit triggers. 
Sec. 103. Increase in the number of weeks of extended benefits during high un-
employment periods. 
Sec. 104. Improved calculation of amounts in an individual’s extended benefit 
account. 
Sec. 105. Transition for amounts remaining in extended benefit accounts when 
a State is no longer in an extended benefit period. 
Sec. 106. Coordination of extended benefits with regular compensation. 
Sec. 107. Portability of extended benefits. 
Sec. 108. Additional extended benefit program improvements. 
Sec. 109. Exemption of extended benefits from sequestration. 
Sec. 110. Effective date. 
TITLE II—MODERNIZATION OF REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT 
Sec. 201. Floor on the number of weeks. 
Sec. 202. Floor on the minimum replacement of wages. 
Sec. 203. Floor on the maximum benefit. 
Sec. 204. Part-time work. 
Sec. 205. Base period. 
Sec. 206. Expansion of good cause separations. 
Sec. 207. Unemployment compensation for victims of a qualifying act of vio-
lence or harassment. 
Sec. 208. Elimination of waiting weeks. 
Sec. 209. Temporary work assignment. 
Sec. 210. Self-employment assistance program. 
Sec. 211. Short-time compensation program. 
Sec. 212. Minimum level of prior employment. 
Sec. 213. Employee status. 
Sec. 214. Eligibility of certain student-workers for unemployment compensa-
tion. 
Sec. 215. Dependents’ allowance. 
Sec. 216. Labor disputes. 
Sec. 217. Educational employees. 
Sec. 218. Emergency enhanced unemployment compensation. 
TITLE III—JOBSEEKER ALLOWANCE 
Sec. 301. Jobseeker allowance. 
TITLE I—MODERNIZATION OF 
EXTENDED BENEFITS 
SEC. 101. FULL FEDERAL FUNDING OF EXTENDED UNEM-
PLOYMENT COMPENSATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 204 of the Federal-State 
Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 
U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘(1) There shall be paid’’ 
and all that follows through the period at the 
end of paragraph (2) and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘(1) There shall be paid to each State 
an amount equal to 100 percent of the extended 
compensation (including allowances for depend-
ents) paid to individuals under State law. 
‘‘(2) No payment shall be made to any State under 
this subsection with respect to benefits paid if the State— 
‘‘(A) assesses payments due in lieu of contribu-
tions from the employer for such benefits; or 
‘‘(B) charges the employer for purposes of em-
ployer experience rating for such benefits.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘section 
3306(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘reduced by an amount’’ 
and inserting ‘‘paragraph (7) or (8) of section 
3306(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
applies shall be reduced by an amount equal to 
50 percent of the amount’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (b) and (c); and 
(3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
subsections (b) and (c), respectively. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 202(a)(6) 
of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensa-
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tion Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by 
striking ‘‘or shareable regular compensation’’. 
SEC. 102. IMPROVING THE EXTENDED BENEFIT TRIGGERS. 
(a) TUR TRIGGERS.—Section 203 of the Federal- 
State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 
(26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by striking subsection 
(f) and inserting the following new subsections: 
‘‘(f) STATE TUR TRIGGER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion: 
‘‘(A) ON
INDICATOR.—There is a State 
‘on’ indicator for a week if the average rate of 
total unemployment in such State (seasonally 
adjusted) for the period consisting of the most 
recent 3 months for which data for all States 
are published before the close of such week 
equals or exceeds 5.5 percent. 
‘‘(B) OFF INDICATOR.—There is a State 
‘off’ indicator for a week if the requirement of 
subparagraph (A) is not satisfied. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—Notwithstanding the pro-
vision of any State law, any week for which there 
would otherwise be a State ‘on’ indicator shall con-
tinue to be such a week and shall not be determined 
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to be a week for which there is a State ‘off’ indi-
cator. 
‘‘(3) DETERMINATIONS OF THE RATE OF TOTAL 
UNEMPLOYMENT.—For purposes of this subsection, 
determinations of the rate of total unemployment in 
any State for any period (and of any seasonal ad-
justment) shall be made by the Secretary. 
‘‘(g) NATIONAL TUR TRIGGER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion: 
‘‘(A) ON
INDICATOR.—There is a State 
‘on’ indicator for a week if the average rate of 
total unemployment for all States (seasonally 
adjusted) for the period consisting of the most 
recent 3 months for which data for all States 
are published before the close of such week 
equals or exceeds 5.5 percent. 
‘‘(B) OFF INDICATOR.—There is a State 
‘off’ indicator for a week if the requirement of 
subparagraph (A) is not satisfied. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—Notwithstanding the pro-
vision of any State law, any week for which there 
would otherwise be a State ‘on’ indicator shall con-
tinue to be such a week and shall not be determined 
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to be a week for which there is a State ‘off’ indi-
cator. 
‘‘(3) DETERMINATIONS OF THE RATE OF TOTAL 
UNEMPLOYMENT.—For purposes of this subsection, 
determinations of the rate of total unemployment for 
all States for any period (and of any seasonal ad-
justment) shall be made by the Secretary.’’. 
(b) ELEVATED NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT TRIG-
GER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 203 of the Federal- 
State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 
1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note), as amended by sub-
section (a), is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(h) ELEVATED NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT TRIG-
GER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion: 
‘‘(A) ON
INDICATOR.—There is a State 
‘on’ indicator for a week if the average rate of 
total unemployment for all States (seasonally 
adjusted) for the period consisting of the most 
recent 3 months for which data for all States 
are published before the close of such week is 
at least 0.5 percentage points higher than the 
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lowest average rate of total unemployment for 
all States (seasonally adjusted) for any contin-
uous 3-month period in the preceding 12 
months. 
‘‘(B) OFF INDICATOR.—There is a State 
‘off’ indicator for a week if the average rate of 
total unemployment for all States (seasonally 
adjusted) for the period consisting of the most 
recent 3 months for which data for all States 
is published before the close of such week— 
‘‘(i) has decreased for not less than 2 
consecutive months; 
‘‘(ii) is less than 5.5 percent; and 
‘‘(iii) is less than 1.5 percentage 
points above the average rate of total un-
employment for all States (seasonally ad-
justed) for the period consisting of the 
most recent 3 months for which data for 
all States is published before the close of 
the first week for which there is an ‘on’ in-
dicator under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—Notwithstanding the pro-
vision of any State law, any week for which there 
would otherwise be a State ‘on’ indicator shall con-
tinue to be such a week and shall not be determined 
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to be a week for which there is a State ‘off’ indi-
cator. 
‘‘(3) DETERMINATIONS OF THE RATE OF TOTAL 
UNEMPLOYMENT.—For purposes of this subsection, 
determinations of the rate of total unemployment for 
all States for any period (and of any seasonal ad-
justment) shall be made by the Secretary. 
‘‘(4) 
INCLUSION
OF
DETERMINATION
IN 
MONTHLY EMPLOYMENT SITUATION REPORTS.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, the Sec-
retary, acting through the Commissioner of the Bu-
reau of Labor Statistics, shall include in each 
monthly employment situation report published by 
the Commissioner a specific determination of wheth-
er or not there is an ‘on’ indicator under paragraph 
(1)(A) in the United States.’’. 
(2) COORDINATION
BETWEEN
ELEVATED
NA-
TIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT TRIGGER AND OTHER TRIG-
GERS.—Section 203(b) of the Federal-State Ex-
tended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 
(26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) In the case of a State for which there is an 
‘on’ indicator for a week under subsection (h) and an ‘on’ 
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indicator for such week under subsection (f) or (g), section 
202(b)(1) shall be applied by substituting— 
‘‘(i) ‘100 per centum’ for ‘50 per centum’ in 
subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) ‘twenty-six’ for ‘thirteen’ in subparagraph 
(B). 
‘‘(B) The increase in amounts in an account by rea-
son of subparagraph (A) shall be in addition to any in-
creases in amounts in an account by reason of paragraph 
(3) of section 202(b).’’. 
SEC. 103. INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WEEKS OF EX-
TENDED BENEFITS DURING HIGH UNEM-
PLOYMENT PERIODS. 
Section 202(b) of the Federal-State Extended Unem-
ployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 
note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘The State law’’ and inserting 
‘‘Subject 
to 
paragraph 
(3) 
and 
section 
203(b)(3), the State law’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘or’’ 
at the end; 
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘, 
or’’ at the end and inserting a period; and 
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(D) by striking subparagraph (C); and 
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) INCREASE IN AMOUNT IN ACCOUNT DUR-
ING HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT PERIODS.— 
‘‘(A) TIERS.—Effective with respect to 
weeks beginning in a high unemployment pe-
riod, paragraph (1) shall be applied as follows: 
‘‘(i) SECOND
TIER.—In the case of 
weeks in a tier 2 high unemployment pe-
riod described in subparagraph (B)(i), by 
substituting— 
‘‘(I) ‘100 per centum’ for ‘50 per 
centum’ in subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(II) ‘twenty-six’ for ‘thirteen’ in 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(ii) THIRD
TIER.—In the case of 
weeks in a tier 3 high unemployment pe-
riod described in subparagraph (B)(ii), by 
substituting— 
‘‘(I) ‘150 per centum’ for ‘50 per 
centum’ in subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(II) ‘thirty-nine’ for ‘thirteen’ in 
subparagraph (B). 
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‘‘(iii) FOURTH TIER.—In the case of 
weeks in a tier 4 high unemployment pe-
riod described in subparagraph (B)(iii), by 
substituting— 
‘‘(I) ‘200 per centum’ for ‘50 per 
centum’ in subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(II) ‘fifty-two’ for ‘thirteen’ in 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT PERIODS.— 
‘‘(i) SECOND TIER.—For purposes of 
subparagraph (A)(i), a second tier high un-
employment period described in this clause 
is any period during which an extended 
benefit period would be in effect if sub-
section (f)(1)(A) or (g)(1)(A) of section 
203 were applied by substituting ‘6.5 per-
cent but is less than 7.5 percent’ for ‘5.5 
percent’. 
‘‘(ii) THIRD TIER.—For purposes of 
subparagraph (A)(ii), a third tier high un-
employment period described in this clause 
is any period during which an extended 
benefit period would be in effect if sub-
section (f)(1)(A) or (g)(1)(A) of section 
203 were applied by substituting ‘7.5 per-
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cent but is less than 8.5 percent’ for ‘5.5 
percent’. 
‘‘(iii) FOURTH TIER.—For purposes of 
subparagraph (A)(iii), a fourth tier high 
unemployment period described in this 
clause is any period during which an ex-
tended benefit period would be in effect if 
subsection (f)(1)(A) or (g)(1)(A) of section 
203 were applied by substituting ‘8.5 per-
cent’ for ‘5.5 percent’. 
‘‘(C) INDIVIDUALS REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR 
AUGMENTED AMOUNT EVEN IF TIER THRESH-
OLD NO LONGER MET.—If an individual’s ac-
count is augmented under subparagraph (B) 
because a State triggers on to a tier described 
in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (B), 
the augmented amount shall remain in such ac-
count for the duration of the individual’s ben-
efit year even if the requirements for such tier 
are no longer met. 
‘‘(D) CLARIFICATION.—The triggers under 
subsections (d) and (h) of section 203 shall not 
apply for purposes of determining high unem-
ployment periods under this paragraph.’’. 
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SEC. 104. IMPROVED CALCULATION OF AMOUNTS IN AN IN-
DIVIDUAL’S EXTENDED BENEFIT ACCOUNT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 202(b)(1) of the Federal- 
State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 
(26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended, in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the least’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the greatest’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to extended compensation ac-
counts established on or after the earlier of— 
(1) the date the State changes its statutes, reg-
ulations, or policies in order to comply with such 
amendment; or 
(2) January 1, 2027. 
SEC. 105. TRANSITION FOR AMOUNTS REMAINING IN EX-
TENDED BENEFIT ACCOUNTS WHEN A STATE 
IS NO LONGER IN AN EXTENDED BENEFIT PE-
RIOD. 
Section 203(b) of the Federal-State Extended Unem-
ployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 
note), as amended by section 102(b)(2), is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) In the case of an individual who has amounts 
remaining in an account established under section 202(b) 
as of the date that extended benefits would otherwise not 
be payable to the individual because there is a State ‘off’ 
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‘‘(C) The State shall pay, if permitted by 
State law— 
‘‘(i) regular compensation equal to the 
weekly benefit amount established under 
the new benefit year; and 
‘‘(ii) extended compensation equal to 
the difference between that weekly benefit 
amount and the weekly benefit amount for 
the expired benefit year. 
‘‘(D) The State shall determine rights to 
extended compensation without regard to any 
rights to regular compensation if the individual 
elects to not file a claim for regular compensa-
tion under the new benefit year.’’. 
SEC. 107. PORTABILITY OF EXTENDED BENEFITS. 
Section 202(a) of the Federal-State Extended Unem-
ployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 
note) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(8) The provisions under section 3304(a)(9)(A) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply to benefits 
under this title in the same manner as such provisions 
apply to regular compensation under State law.’’. 
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SEC. 108. ADDITIONAL EXTENDED BENEFIT PROGRAM IM-
PROVEMENTS. 
(a) STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS.—Section 202(a) of 
the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation 
Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended— 
(1) paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (D)(iii), by striking 
‘‘subparagraphs (C) and (E)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subparagraph (C)’’; and 
(B) by striking subparagraph (E) and re-
designating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph 
(E); 
(2) by striking paragraphs (4), (5), and (7) and 
redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (4); and 
(3) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘paragraphs (3), (4), and (5)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘paragraph (3)’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION
OF MANDATORY 13-WEEK OFF 
PERIOD.—Section 203(b)(1) of the Federal-State Ex-
tended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 
U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by striking ‘‘any State’’ and 
all that follows before the period at the end and inserting 
‘‘any State, no extended benefit period shall last for a pe-
riod of less than thirteen consecutive weeks’’. 
(c) ELIMINATION OF LOOK BACK UNDER THE IN-
SURED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TRIGGER.—Section 203(d) 
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of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensa-
tion Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘twelve 
weeks—’’ and all that follows through ‘‘5 per cen-
tum’’ and inserting ‘‘twelve weeks equal or exceeded 
5 percent’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘either sub-
paragraph (A) or subparagraph (B) of’’; and 
(3) by striking the second and third sentences. 
(d) DETERMINATION OF INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT 
RATE.—Section 203(e)(1)(A) of the Federal-State Ex-
tended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 
U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by inserting ‘‘, extended 
compensation, unemployment compensation for Federal 
civilian employees under subchapter I of chapter 85 of title 
5, United States Code, or unemployment compensation for 
ex-servicemembers under subchapter II of such chapter 
85’’ after ‘‘regular compensation’’. 
SEC. 109. EXEMPTION OF EXTENDED BENEFITS FROM SE-
QUESTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the Bal-
anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 
(2 U.S.C. 905(g)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting after 
‘‘Payments to Social Security Trust Funds (28–0404–0– 
1–651).’’ the following: 
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‘‘Payments to a State under the Federal-State Ex-
tended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 
U.S.C. 3304 note).’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by this 
section shall apply to any sequestration order issued under 
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act 
of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.) on or after the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 110. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this title (other than sec-
tions 104 and 109) shall apply to weeks of unemployment 
beginning on or after January 1, 2027 (or earlier if estab-
lished by State law (but in no case earlier than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act)). 
TITLE II—MODERNIZATION OF 
REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT 
SEC. 201. FLOOR ON THE NUMBER OF WEEKS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3304(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (18), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (19) as para-
graph (20); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (18) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
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‘‘(19) the minimum duration of benefits is at 
least 26 weeks and no variable duration formula 
that provides for maximum weeks of benefits of 
fewer than 26 weeks is used, or, in the case of a 
State that uses a maximum benefit entitlement, an 
individual’s maximum benefit entitlement may not 
be less than 26 times the individual’s weekly benefit 
amount; and’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to weeks of unemployment be-
ginning on or after the earlier of— 
(1) the date the State changes its statutes, reg-
ulations, or policies in order to comply with such 
amendments; or 
(2) January 1, 2027. 
SEC. 202. FLOOR ON THE MINIMUM REPLACEMENT OF 
WAGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3304(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as previously amended by this title, 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (19), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (20) as para-
graph (21); and 
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(3) by inserting after paragraph (19) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(20) an individual’s weekly benefit amount is 
equal to the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) the maximum weekly benefit amount 
under the State law; or 
‘‘(B) an amount equal to the quotient of— 
‘‘(i) an amount equal to at least 75 
percent of the total earnings in the quarter 
of the individual’s base period with the 
highest earnings; divided by 
‘‘(ii) 13; and’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to weeks of unemployment be-
ginning on or after the earlier of— 
(1) the date the State changes its statutes, reg-
ulations, or policies in order to comply with such 
amendments; or 
(2) January 1, 2027. 
SEC. 203. FLOOR ON THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3304(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as previously amended by this title, 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (20), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
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(2) by redesignating paragraph (21) as para-
graph (22); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (20) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(21) the maximum weekly benefit amount may 
not be less than 2⁄3 of the State’s average weekly 
wage (as determined by the Secretary of Labor) as 
of October 1 of each calendar year and applied for 
claims effective on or after January 1 of the subse-
quent calendar year; and’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to weeks of unemployment be-
ginning on or after the earlier of— 
(1) the date the State changes its statutes, reg-
ulations, or policies in order to comply with such 
amendments; or 
(2) January 1, 2027. 
SEC. 204. PART-TIME WORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3304(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as previously amended by this title, 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (21), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (22) as para-
graph (25); and 
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(3) by inserting after paragraph (21) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs: 
‘‘(22) an individual is not denied unemployment 
compensation under any State law provisions relat-
ing to ability to work, availability for work, active 
search for work, or refusal to accept work, solely on 
the basis of the number of hours of work such indi-
vidual is seeking, provided that the individual is 
seeking at least the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) 20 hours of work per week; or 
‘‘(B) a number of hours of work per week 
equal to at least 1⁄2 of the typical number of 
hours worked per week in the individual’s base 
period; 
‘‘(23) an unemployed individual may claim ben-
efits for a week of partial unemployment where the 
individual performs less than full-time work while 
continuing to search for additional part-time or full- 
time work in accordance with State law if their earn-
ings are less than the individual’s weekly benefit 
amount; 
‘‘(24) when determining the weekly benefit 
amount for an individual claiming a benefit for a 
week of partial unemployment, the State disregards, 
at a minimum, earnings equal to 1⁄3 of the individ-
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ual’s weekly benefit amount in computing the indi-
vidual’s weekly benefit for partial unemployment; 
and’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to weeks of unemployment be-
ginning on or after the earlier of— 
(1) the date the State changes its statutes, reg-
ulations, or policies in order to comply with such 
amendments; or 
(2) January 1, 2027. 
SEC. 205. BASE PERIOD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3304(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as previously amended by this title, 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (24), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (25) as para-
graph (27); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (24) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs: 
‘‘(25) the State law— 
‘‘(A) uses a base period that consists of 4 
completed calendar quarters preceding the ef-
fective date of the claim and includes the most 
recently completed calendar quarter before the 
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start of the benefit year for purposes of deter-
mining eligibility for unemployment compensa-
tion; or 
‘‘(B) provides that, in the case of an indi-
vidual who would not otherwise be eligible for 
unemployment compensation under the State 
law because of the use of a base period that 
does not meet the requirements described in 
subparagraph (A), eligibility is determined 
using a base period that consists of 4 completed 
calendar quarters preceding the effective date of 
the claim and includes the most recently com-
pleted calendar quarter before the start of the 
benefit year; 
‘‘(26) in the case of an individual who would 
not otherwise be eligible for unemployment com-
pensation under State law because the individual 
took unpaid leave or reduced pay for medical, paren-
tal, or caregiving purposes during the base period, or 
because the individual was incapable of work due to 
illness, injury, or disability during the base period, 
eligibility shall be determined using a base period 
that includes the State’s standard or alternative 
base period and at least 4 additional consecutive 
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quarters immediately before the base period or alter-
native base period; and’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to claims with an effective date 
beginning on or after the earlier of— 
(1) the date the State changes its statutes, reg-
ulations, or policies in order to comply with such 
amendments; or 
(2) January 1, 2027. 
SEC. 206. EXPANSION OF GOOD CAUSE SEPARATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3304 of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986, as previously amended by this title, 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (26), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (27) as 
paragraph (28); and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (26) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(27) an individual shall not be disqualified 
from unemployment compensation for separating 
from employment if that separation is for any com-
pelling reason (as defined in subsection (g)); and’’; 
and 
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(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) DEFINITION OF COMPELLING REASON.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subsection 
(a)(27), the Secretary of Labor shall establish a def-
inition for the term ‘compelling reason’. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In defining the term 
compelling reason, the Secretary shall include the 
following reasons: 
‘‘(A) ILLNESS OR DISABILITY OF A QUALI-
FIED FAMILY MEMBER.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The illness or dis-
ability of a qualified family member of the 
individual. 
‘‘(ii) QUALIFIED FAMILY MEMBER.— 
For purposes of clause (i), the term ‘quali-
fied family member’ means, with respect to 
an individual— 
‘‘(I) a spouse (including a domes-
tic partner in a civil union or other 
registered domestic partnership recog-
nized by a State) and a spouse’s par-
ent; 
‘‘(II) a child and a child’s spouse; 
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‘‘(III) a parent and a parent’s 
spouse; 
‘‘(IV) a sibling and a sibling’s 
spouse; 
‘‘(V) a grandparent, a grand-
child, or a spouse of a grandparent or 
grandchild; and 
‘‘(VI) any other individual who is 
related by blood or affinity and whose 
association with the individual is the 
equivalent of a family relationship (as 
determined under regulations issued 
by the Secretary of the Labor). 
‘‘(B) 
ACCOMPANY
THE
INDIVIDUAL’S 
SPOUSE.—In order to accompany such individ-
ual’s spouse— 
‘‘(i) to a place which is outside of the 
individual’s commuting area; and 
‘‘(ii) due to a change in location of the 
spouse’s employment. 
‘‘(C) RELOCATION OF WORKPLACE.—The 
relocation of the workplace of the individual to 
a place which is outside of the individual’s com-
muting area. 
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which such individual was not entitled, such indi-
vidual— 
‘‘(A) shall be ineligible for further emer-
gency enhanced unemployment compensation in 
accordance with the provisions of the applicable 
State unemployment compensation law relating 
to fraud in connection with a claim for unem-
ployment compensation; and 
‘‘(B) shall be subject to prosecution under 
section 1001 of title 18, United States Code. 
‘‘(2) REPAYMENT.—In the case of individuals 
who have received amounts of emergency enhanced 
unemployment compensation to which they were not 
entitled, the State shall require such individuals to 
repay the amounts of such emergency enhanced un-
employment compensation to the State agency, ex-
cept that the State agency shall waive such repay-
ment if it determines that— 
‘‘(A) the payment of such emergency en-
hanced unemployment compensation was not 
based on fraud on the part of any such indi-
vidual; and 
‘‘(B) such repayment would be contrary to 
equity and good conscience. 
‘‘(3) RECOVERY BY STATE AGENCY.— 
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