A growing number of states are proposing legislation to extend unemployment insurance to striking workers: State legislation making striking workers eligible for unemployment insurance, 2018–2025
| State | Bill number | Legislative session | Bill details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | SB799 | 2023–2024 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 14 days | Vetoed |
| Connecticut | HB 5146 | 2023–2024 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 14 days | Vetoed |
| SB 8 | 2024–2025 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 14 days | Introduced | |
| Delaware | SB 26 | 2025–2026 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 14 days | Introduced |
| Hawaii | HB 158 | 2025–2026 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 7 days | Introduced |
| SB 2188 | 2024–2025 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 7 days | Did not pass | |
| Illinois | HB 4143 | 2023–2024 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 14 days | Did not pass |
| Maryland | SB 0871 / HB 0339 | 2024–2025 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 14 days | Did not pass |
| Massachusetts | S1172 | 2023-2024 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 30 days | Did not pass |
| SD2039 / HD.1367 | 2025-2026 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 30 days | Introduced | |
| Minnesota | HF 3446 | 2023–2024 | Provides UI access to workers on strike beginning the Sunday after the first day of the strike (eligibility ranges from 7 to 14 days depending on the strike’s start date) | Did not pass |
| New Jersey | A3861 | 2018–2019 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 30 days | Enacted |
| A4772 | 2022–2023 | Reduced waiting period from 30 days to 14 days | Enacted | |
| New York | S 4573 | 2019–2020 | Reduce waiting period from 7 weeks to 14 days | Enacted |
| A 1443 | 2023–2024 | Reduce waiting period from 14 days to 7 days | Did not pass | |
| Ohio | SB 180 | 2023–2024 | Allows striking workers to apply for up to 4 weeks of retroactive UI benefits | Did not pass |
| HB 334 | 2023–2024 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 7 days | Did not pass | |
| Oregon | SB 916 | 2025 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 7 days | Introduced |
| Pennsylvania | HB 1481 | 2023–2024 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 30 days | Did not pass |
| Rhode Island | SB 2783 | 2023–2024 | Provides UI access to workers on strike for more than 7 days | Did not pass |
| Washington | SB 5041 | 2025–2026 | Provides UI access to workers on strike beginning the Sunday after the first day of the strike (eligibility ranges from 7 to 14 days depending on the strike’s start date) | Introduced |
Source: Analysis of state legislation.