Purpose of the Bill

This bill is designed to offer extra unemployment insurance benefits and facilitate environmental changes, specifically focusing on the iron ore mining industry and related sectors. It also addresses sulfate water quality standards and reactive mine waste storage.

Main Provisions

• Additional Unemployment Benefits:

  • Available to workers in the iron ore mining and explosive manufacturing industries who were laid off between March 15, 2025, and June 15, 2025.
  • Laid-off workers must meet specific eligibility criteria, including having exhausted regular unemployment benefits.
  • The additional benefits can last up to 26 weeks.

• Eligibility Requirements:

  • Applicants must have established a benefit account primarily with companies in these industries.
  • Applicants must meet the same standards as those for regular unemployment benefits.

• Calculation of Benefits:

  • The weekly benefit amount for additional benefits will be equivalent to the amount of regular unemployment benefits the applicant previously received.

• Qualifying for a New Benefit Account:

  • If an applicant qualifies for a new benefit account after exhausting initial unemployment benefits, they must apply for the new account.
  • The new benefit account might change the benefit amount depending on its comparison to additional unemployment benefits.

• Charging of Benefits:

  • Benefits from this provision will not impact the future unemployment tax rates for most employers, except specific ones involved.

• Federal Trade Readjustment Allowance:

  • Individuals eligible for federal Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits are ineligible for these additional state unemployment benefits.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill would amend Minnesota statutes by providing a temporary unemployment benefit extension and exemptions related to the charging of these benefits.
• It includes new codings in Minnesota statutes related to sulfate water quality standards and mine waste management while proposing to repeal a specific rule concerning these.

Relevant Terms

• Iron ore mining
• Unemployment benefits
• Sulfate water quality standards
• Reactive mine waste
• Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits
• Benefit account