Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the bill is to provide additional unemployment benefits to employees affected by large-scale layoffs in Minnesota's iron ore mining industry and related sectors.

Main Provisions

• Eligibility for Additional Benefits: Employees laid off from iron ore mining companies or their suppliers, if the company reduced its workforce by 50% or more between March 15, 2025, and June 16, 2025, are eligible for additional benefits.
• Benefit Duration and Amount: Eligible employees can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks. The weekly benefit rate will match the regular unemployment benefit amount previously received.
• Conditions for Receiving Benefits: To receive these benefits, applicants must have:
  • Exhausted their regular unemployment benefits.
  • Established a benefit account where at least 50% of their wage credits are from affected employers.
  • Met all regular unemployment benefit requirements under Minnesota law.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Extension of Benefits: This bill introduces an extension of unemployment benefits specifically for those affected by industry-specific mass layoffs, akin to industry-targeted financial aid.
• Interaction with Trade Benefits: It clarifies that employees eligible for federal Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits cannot simultaneously receive these additional state-level unemployment benefits.

Relevant Terms

iron ore mining, unemployment benefits, layoffs, workforce reduction, Minnesota unemployment insurance, Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits, wage credits.