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Sponsor says shortening maximum UI weeks will push Montanans back to work; unions and rural advocates urge caution
Summary
House Bill 131 would reduce the maximum duration of unemployment insurance benefits in Montana from 24 weeks to 20; the sponsor and business groups said the change would accelerate re-employment while unions and rural stakeholders warned of harms to seasonal workers.
Representative Keri Seekins Crowe opened the hearing on House Bill 131 saying the bill reduces maximum unemployment insurance (UI) weeks from 24 to 20 to incentivize jobseekers to accept work sooner amid a tight labor market.
"Montana's workforce shortage can be solved in part by scaling down benefit duration," the sponsor said, noting labor-market statistics cited in the hearing showing more than three job openings for every person claiming unemployment in the state. She described the average weekly UI benefit as about $445 and said the average job pays more than $1,000 a week.
Proponents included a governor's office adviser and business groups. Dylan Klapmeier, the governor's education and workforce policy advisor, said Montana's unemployment rate was historically low and the administration…
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