To amend sections 4141.30, 4141.33, and 4141.53 of the Revised Code to reduce the maximum weeks an individual may receive unemployment benefits from 26 to 20 weeks.
Summary
HB376 would amend Ohio’s unemployment compensation statutes to shorten the maximum duration of regular unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. The bill changes section 4141.30 so that, for benefit years beginning on or after the effective date, an eligible claimant’s total benefits would be capped at 20 times the weekly benefit amount rather than 26 times that amount. It also makes conforming changes in related provisions governing seasonal employment and shared work compensation so those programs continue to reference the revised maximum benefit limit.
The bill does not appear to change the basic eligibility framework for unemployment benefits, weekly benefit calculations, dependency classes, or the rules for seasonal and shared-work claimants. Instead, it primarily reduces the length of time a claimant can receive benefits in a benefit year and updates cross-references so the rest of the unemployment compensation system remains internally consistent. As introduced, it would amend sections 4141.30, 4141.33, and 4141.53 of the Revised Code and repeal the existing versions of those sections.
Impact
HB376 would directly affect Ohio’s unemployment compensation law by lowering the maximum number of weeks of regular benefits available to eligible unemployed workers from 26 to 20. That change would reduce potential benefit duration for claimants and could lower unemployment compensation costs for the state and employers who finance the system. The bill also updates related provisions for seasonal workers and shared-work participants to align with the new 20-week cap, ensuring that those programs do not continue to reference the prior 26-week maximum.
Sentiment
Based on the available context, the bill appears to be a Republican-led effort to tighten unemployment benefits, with multiple cosponsors and no recorded committee testimony or votes yet. Because the bill is only at the introduction stage and has not advanced through recorded floor action, there is no formal vote history to indicate broader legislative support or opposition. The overall framing suggests a policy preference for shorter benefit duration rather than expansion of unemployment assistance.
Contention
The central point of contention is likely the reduction in benefit duration itself: supporters would view the bill as a way to limit unemployment compensation to a shorter period, while opponents would likely argue that cutting benefits from 26 weeks to 20 weeks could leave unemployed workers with less time to find new work and increase financial hardship. Another possible area of concern is the effect on workers in seasonal industries and shared-work arrangements, since those provisions are amended to conform to the lower cap. No committee transcript is available, so specific arguments from stakeholders are not documented in the provided materials.
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