House Bill No. 6904 proposes changes to the eligibility of striking workers for unemployment benefits in Connecticut. Specifically, the bill allows workers involved in labor disputes that begin on or after December 14, 2026, to qualify 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, except in cases of lockouts or if the individual is not participating in the dispute. The new language clarifies that the disqualification will not apply if the labor dispute has been continuous for 14 days.

The bill also includes a provision that defines a lockout and outlines the conditions under which it exists, ensuring that workers affected by such circumstances can still receive benefits. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025. The fiscal impact of the bill includes 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, totaling $394,000 over two fiscal years.