House Bill No. 6904 proposes changes to the eligibility criteria for unemployment benefits for workers involved in labor disputes, specifically those who are on strike. The bill stipulates that for labor disputes commencing on or after December 14, 2026, striking workers will become eligible for unemployment benefits after they have been on strike for 14 consecutive days. This amendment replaces the current law, which generally disqualifies individuals from receiving benefits during any week of unemployment due to a labor dispute. The new language clarifies that the disqualification will be lifted after the specified duration of the strike, provided that certain conditions are met, including that the individual is not participating in or financing the dispute and does not belong to a trade or organization involved in the dispute.

Additionally, the bill retains provisions that allow claimants to qualify for benefits without a waiting period if their unemployment is due to a lockout or if they are not involved in the labor dispute. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025. The bill is expected to have fiscal implications, including potential costs to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and a one-time cost to the General Fund for necessary technology updates to the unemployment insurance administration system.