PennsylvaniaHB 2742025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for qualifications required to secure co . . .mpensation and for ineligibility for compensation, providing for eligibility related to domestic violence and further providing for rate and amount of compensation.

Sponsored By: Jason Dawkins (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Unemployment protections for domestic violence survivors

Beginning 60 days after enactment, domestic violence survivors gain protection from unemployment disqualification for leaving or missing work. The violence must make continued employment dangerous for you or a family or household member. You must meet other unemployment eligibility rules and verify the violence. Accepted proof includes protective orders, court or agency records, qualified professionals' statements, a self-affirmation, or other evidence that reasonably proves it. If you start with a self-affirmation, supporting documents are due within 150 days after applying. The Department can excuse that requirement or extend the deadline for good cause. It must speed up eligibility decisions, keep documents confidential, and keep the violence out of employer notices. It must consult the Office of Victim Advocate and relevant groups on forms and notices.

New wage limits for unemployment claimants

If the statutory trigger percentage is below 100% on July 1, 2028, an alternative wage formula applies starting in 2029. It averages your highest quarter's wages with 130% of your second-highest quarter's wages, capping that second contribution at the highest quarter. This sets the wage basis used to calculate benefits, not the weekly check itself. Under this formula, the second benefit-table entry cannot exceed 63% of total base-year wages. You are financially ineligible under this formula if your highest quarter exceeds 63% of total base-year wages. That eligibility restriction takes effect three years after the act's effective date. If the trigger reaches at least 250% on July 1, 2029, or a later July 1, standard rules return the next calendar year.

Tighter unemployment rules for job seekers

Beginning one year after enactment, required earnings after a disqualifying separation rise from 6 to 12 times your weekly benefit. This applies to separations covered by sections 402(b), (e), (e.1), (h), or (k); earnings must come from covered employment. Employer-approved leave is exempt if you reasonably try to return when it ends. Beginning 60 days after enactment, job seekers must make good-faith efforts to get suitable work. Unreasonably discouraging your own hiring counts as refusing work and can cause benefit loss and recoverable overpayments. Examples include refusing interviews, selection activities, employment, or referrals without good cause. The Department must create or update employer reporting forms within 90 days after the hiring-discouragement rule takes effect.

Employers avoid specified unemployment benefit charges

Beginning 60 days after enactment, employers whose wages form a claim's base year receive automatic relief from specified benefit charges. Relief covers claims denied because a job seeker unreasonably discouraged their own hiring. It also covers claims approved under the domestic violence protections. Employers need not request relief, and the Department must notify them. Notices cannot reveal the domestic violence situation.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Jason Dawkins
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Abigail Salisbury
Democratic • House
Andre D. Carroll
Democratic • House
Arvind Venkat
Democratic • House
Benjamin V. Sanchez
Democratic • House
Carol Hill-Evans
Democratic • House
Carol Kazeem
Democratic • House
Christina D. Sappey
Democratic • House
Daniel J. Deasy
Democratic • House
Dave Madsen
Democratic • House
G. Roni Green
Democratic • House
Heather Boyd
Democratic • House
Jeanne McNeill
Democratic • House
Jose Giral
Democratic • House
Joseph C. Hohenstein
Democratic • House
Keith S. Harris
Democratic • House
Kristin Marcell
Republican • House
Kristine C. Howard
Democratic • House
La'Tasha D. Mayes
Democratic • House
Lindsay Powell
Democratic • House
Liz Hanbidge
Democratic • House
Malcolm Kenyatta
Democratic • House
Melissa Cerrato
Democratic • House
Melissa L. Shusterman
Democratic • House
Michael H. Schlossberg
Democratic • House
Patrick J. Harkins
Democratic • House
Perry S. Warren
Democratic • House
Rick Krajewski
Democratic • House
Robert Freeman
Democratic • House
Seth Grove
Affiliation unavailable
Tarik Khan
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 631 • No: 44

Senate vote • 12/9/2025

House Bill 274 PN2674 A02245, ROBINSON Amendment No. A-2245

Yes: 42 • No: 5

Senate vote • 12/9/2025

House Bill 274 PN2683, Final Passage

Yes: 42 • No: 5

committee vote • 12/9/2025

21 0

Yes: 21 • No: 0

committee vote • 12/8/2025

11 6

Yes: 11 • No: 6

committee vote • 12/8/2025

11 6

Yes: 11 • No: 6

committee vote • 10/29/2025

10 1

Yes: 10 • No: 1

committee vote • 10/29/2025

7 4

Yes: 7 • No: 4

committee vote • 7/16/2025

11 0

Yes: 11 • No: 0

committee vote • 3/19/2025

37 0

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 3/19/2025

House Bill 274 PN1026, FINAL PASSAGE

Yes: 198 • No: 4

House vote • 3/18/2025

House Bill 274 PN0374 A00050

Yes: 189 • No: 13

committee vote • 1/29/2025

26 0

Yes: 26 • No: 0