Eliminates the "until June 30, 2026" sunset on the increase in the total amount of earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant can receive before being entirely disqualified for unemployment insurance benefits.

Rhode Island Partial Unemployment Benefits Bill

This bill deals with partial unemployment insurance, which is a program that helps workers who are still employed but have had their hours — and therefore their paychecks — reduced. Under current Rhode Island law, these workers can collect some unemployment benefits while still earning wages, up to a certain earnings limit. Once their earnings exceed that limit, they no longer qualify for any unemployment benefits. A previous law raised that earnings limit, but only temporarily — it was set to expire on June 30, 2026. This bill would make that higher earnings limit permanent.

In practical terms, this means workers who have experienced a cut in their hours would be able to earn slightly more from their reduced-job wages before losing access to partial unemployment benefits. Without this bill, the earnings limit would drop back down after June 2026, meaning some workers could lose eligibility for partial benefits sooner than they currently do.

The people most directly affected are Rhode Island workers who are underemployed — meaning they are still working but not getting as many hours or as much pay as they need or previously had. Employers, particularly in industries where hours fluctuate seasonally or during economic downturns, could also be indirectly affected. The bill has been referred to the Senate Labor and Gaming committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.