Last week the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development approved two pieces of legislation that could result in the state’s UI crisis becoming worse. The bills, opposed by NFIB at a committee hearing last October, seek to change eligibility for workers with fluctuating work schedules and provide waivers for overpayments.

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These pieces of legislation would further strain the already at-capacity UI trust fund. As previously reported, the UI fund is set to become insolvent in Q3 of 2027, triggering additional tax hikes on employers through higher rate schedules. Employers are currently repaying $2.7 billion in pandemic related UI debt and an additional $2.1 billion from a state accounting error. Last year New York provided nearly $7 billion in aid to wipe out UI debt, however Massachusetts lawmakers have continuously refused to shore-up the trust fund.

Massachusetts already has the second highest UI maximum weekly benefit in the nation at $1,105 per week (plus dependency benefits), the longest duration at 30 weeks, and very low eligibility standards failing to require a “time worked” test like every other state. The UI system is broken and in crisis, it would be extremely irresponsible of Beacon Hill to advance these bills and make the scenario worse.

Below please see which committee members voted in favor of these bills: