Nashville Tennessean
Top Republican lawmakers in Tennessee appear to have agreed on an initiative that would significantly lower the maximum period Tennesseans can collect unemployment benefits — a measure they say would incentivize a return to the workforce.
The now-amended bill, sponsored by Sen. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, garnered the support of both Senate and House leaders Thursday after initially stalling in the upper chamber. Its previous Senate sponsor, Sen. Art Swann, R-Maryville, had said he did not intend to move the measure forward.
Under the current legislation, Tennesseans would see their weekly payments rise by up to $50 — more than the $5 increase originally proposed. The maximum payout period, tied to the state's unemployment rate, could be capped at as low as 12 weeks — the lowest in the nation.