Purpose of the Bill

The aim of this bill is to provide additional unemployment benefits to employees who have been laid off from the iron ore mining industry in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

1. Eligibility for Benefits:

   • The bill offers additional unemployment benefits to workers laid off between March 15, 2025, and June 16, 2025, from companies in the iron ore mining industry that reduced their workforce by 50% or more.
   • Employees from the explosive manufacturing industry, servicing the mining sector, who are laid off due to reduced operations are also eligible.

2. Benefit Period and Amount:

   • Eligible applicants can receive benefits through the week ending June 19, 2026.
   • The weekly benefit amount for these additional benefits will be the same as their regular unemployment benefits.
   • The total amount of additional benefits is capped at the equivalent of 26 weeks of their regular weekly benefit payment.

3. Establishing a New Benefit Account:

   • If an applicant qualifies for a new regular unemployment benefit account (after exhausting their original benefits due to layoffs), they must apply for it.
   • If the amount from the new regular account is higher, the applicant must draw from it until it is exhausted.
   • If the new regular account provides less, the applicant can continue receiving additional unemployment benefits.

4. Limitation on Other Benefits:

   • Individuals eligible for federal Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) benefits cannot receive additional benefits under this program.

Significant Changes

This bill allows certain laid-off workers in the iron ore mining sector to access additional unemployment benefits not typically available, extending both the duration and the financial support beyond standard unemployment benefits.

Relevant Terms

• Unemployment insurance
• Iron ore mining industry
• Explosive manufacturing industry
• Additional unemployment benefits
• Minnesota unemployment insurance trust fund
• Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits