HB 199

relating to the maximum amount of unemployment benefits payable to
an individual during a benefit year under the state unemployment
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 207, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Section 207.0055 to read as follows:
Sec. 207.0055.  MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BENEFITS; SLIDING SCALE.
(a)  In this section, "state average unemployment rate" means the
average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in this state, as
published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, during
the most recent completed calendar year quarter preceding the first
day of an individual's benefit year.
(b)  The maximum amount of benefits payable to an eligible
individual during a benefit year is an amount determined by the
state average unemployment rate on a sliding scale as follows:
(1)  14 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
rate is not greater than 6.5 percent;
(2)  15 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
rate is at least 6.6 percent but not greater than 7 percent;
(3)  16 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
rate is at least 7.1 percent but not greater than 7.5 percent;
(4)  17 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
rate is at least 7.6 percent but not greater than 8 percent;
(5)  18 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
rate is at least 8.1 percent but not greater than 8.5 percent;
(6)  19 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
rate is at least 8.6 percent but not greater than 9 percent;
(7)  20 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
rate is greater than 9 percent but not greater than 9.5 percent;
(8)  21 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
rate is at least 9.6 percent but not greater than 10 percent; and
(9)  27 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
rate is greater than 10 percent.
SECTION 2.  Section 215.043(a), Labor Code, is amended to
(a)  An individual is not entitled to receive shared work
benefits and regular unemployment compensation benefits that
exceed the maximum total benefits payable to the individual in a
benefit year as provided by Section 207.0055 [207.005].
SECTION 3.  Section 207.005, Labor Code, is repealed.
SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a claim for unemployment compensation benefits filed with the Texas
Workforce Commission on or after the effective date of this Act.  A
claim filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
law in effect on the date the claim was filed, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.