This bill establishes an additional unemployment benefits program specifically for employees in the iron ore mining industry in Minnesota. It provides that individuals laid off due to lack of work between November 1, 2025, and March 15, 2026, from employers who have significantly reduced their workforce (40% or more) or from related explosive manufacturing industries, may be eligible for these benefits. To qualify, applicants must have established a benefit account with at least 50% of their wage credits from the specified employers and must have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits. The additional benefits will be available through the week ending March 20, 2027.

The bill outlines the weekly benefit amount, which will match the regular unemployment benefit amount, and caps the total additional benefits at 26 weeks. It also includes provisions for applicants who qualify for a new regular benefit account after exhausting their initial benefits, detailing how they should proceed based on the comparison of benefit amounts. Notably, individuals who qualify for federal Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits will not be eligible for these additional unemployment benefits. The effective date for this program is retroactively set to November 1, 2025.