Tennessee lawmakers pushed forward a bill to slash unemployment benefits by more than half. If signed by Governor Bill Lee, State Bill 1402/House Bill 1039 would take the benefits down from 26 weeks to 12 weeks. Tennessee already has the second lowest benefits in the region. Only Mississippi pays less per week.

The bill also increases the amount of money available by $50 each week. That would bring the maximum benefits from $275, to $325 a week.

Additional weeks would be added if the state’s average unemployment rate goes above 5.5% for a maximum of 20 weeks should the unemployment rate reach 9%.

If signed by Lee, the bill would go into effect in 2023.