Committee advances bill shortening maximum weeks of unemployment benefits to 20; renaming removed

The House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee on a roll call approved Senate File 175 as amended, a measure that reduces the statutory maximum duration of unemployment insurance benefits in Wyoming from 26 weeks to 20 weeks and preserves the current name of the unemployment commission after members removed a renaming provision.

Sen. John Kolb, the sponsor, framed the bill as a policy choice aimed at encouraging faster reemployment and easing long‑term costs for employers. He told the committee Wyoming’s unemployment trust fund is well capitalized and that most claimants do not exhaust the current maximum. “Wyoming is a very strong employment state… this change will get Wyoming workers back to work sooner,” Kolb said.

Liz Gagan, director of the Department of Workforce…