H.B. No. 3699 amends Section 208.002(a) of the Labor Code regarding initial claims under the unemployment compensation system in Texas. The bill clarifies the definitions of "last work" and "person for whom the claimant last worked." Specifically, it removes the previous stipulation that the claimant must have worked for the last employer for at least 30 hours during a week and eliminates references to the unemployment laws of other states. Instead, it states that the last employer is defined as the employer for whom the claimant last worked, unless otherwise provided by state or federal law.

The changes introduced by this bill will only apply to claims for unemployment compensation benefits filed with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after January 1, 2026. Claims filed before this effective date will continue to be governed by the existing law in effect at the time of filing. The bill received unanimous support in both the House and Senate, indicating broad legislative agreement on the proposed changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Labor Code 208.002 (Labor Code 208)
House Committee Report: Labor Code 208.002 (Labor Code 208)
Engrossed: Labor Code 208.002 (Labor Code 208)
Senate Committee Report: Labor Code 208.002 (Labor Code 208)
Enrolled: Labor Code 208.002 (Labor Code 208)