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House approves technical 'suitable work' cleanup to unemployment law
Summary
House Bill 25‑42, described by the sponsor as a cleanup to remove outdated wage formulas from Tennessee's unemployment insurance statute, passed after members questioned whether benefit eligibility or repayments could be affected; sponsor said federal requirements remain and cases will be handled through weekly certification investigations.
Representative Renaud told the House that House Bill 25‑42 is a Department of Labor cleanup that removes outdated and conflicting wage percentage formulas from Tennessee's unemployment insurance statute so the state law aligns with the program's current structure. She said the change does not remove suitable work protections and that federal requirements remain in force.
Representative Clemens and Representative Dixie asked whether deleting the wage provisions could force claimants to take far lower‑paying jobs or cause them to lose benefits while an investigation is pending. Representative Renaud said claimants will continue to answer weekly certification questions about refused work and that an investigation follows; she said benefits ordinarily continue while the investigation proceeds and that the process is case‑dependent.
On the floor the House voted; the clerk announced a recorded tally of 70 yeas and 15 nays and the presiding officer declared the bill passed on third reading.
