Minnesota House passes extension of unemployment benefits for Iron Range workers, 132-0

The Minnesota House of Representatives voted 132-0 on March 20 to pass House File 3023, extending unemployment insurance benefits by an additional 26 weeks for roughly 630 workers affected by recent mine closures on the Iron Range.

The vote came after the House approved a motion to suspend the rules and give HF3023 its third reading and final passage. Representative Igo moved the urgency motion on the floor; the motion was agreed to by voice vote and the subsequent roll call showed 132 yeas and 0 nays, the clerk announced.

House File 3023 provides an additional 26 weeks of unemployment insurance for workers impacted by the closures. "This is my bill," Representative Johnson Peay said on the floor, describing the measure as a way to provide "breathing room, some certainty, and a path forward for 630 workers on the Iron Range." Johnson Peay said the measure was intended to protect workers, their families and the communities that depend on the mining economy.

Several lawmakers across party lines urged support. "This is an act of solidarity," Representative Godfrey said, arguing the extension recognizes the shared interests of Minnesota workers. Representative Scrabba described taconite mining work as "hard, dirty work" and said the extension functions as an "insurance policy" for communities dependent on mining revenues. Representative Berg, a former steelworker, and Representative Greenman also spoke in favor, stressing the economic role of unemployment insurance for families and local businesses.

Representatives from the Iron Range delegation recounted the effect of the layoffs on close-knit communities. Representative Igo said the layoffs left residents in a state of shock and described the effort to draft the bill in coordination with union leaders. "Within a week later, I had both of the union presidents of the affected mines in my office, and we were talking about what we were going to do," Igo said.

Supporters noted the regional impact of mining revenue on schools and services and framed the extension as protecting statewide interests tied to Iron Range employment. Representative Zalesnikar said mining supports the state's school permanent fund and local institutions, urging colleagues to "vote green for Northern Minnesota and the state of Minnesota." Representative Johnson Peay and other proponents also urged negotiators to use the same urgency to consider relief for other affected hourly workers in conference negotiations.

Votes at a glance: House File 3023 — Motion to suspend rules and grant third reading/final passage; final passage 132-0; outcome: approved. The bill, as described on the floor, adds 26 weeks of unemployment benefits for about 630 workers affected by mine closures on the Iron Range.

The House cited Article 4, Section 19 of the Minnesota Constitution when declaring urgency to suspend House rules and advance the bill for immediate final passage. The bill passed without amendments at the desk and the chief clerk gave the third reading before the roll call that produced the unanimous tally.