Lawmakers in Tennessee are considering a bill that calls for slashing unemployment benefits by more than half from 26 to 12 weeks. The state already has the fourth lowest payout in the nation for unemployment benefits. The most someone can qualify for is $275 per week. The bill would also allow people to collect more benefits depending on the state of the economy. If the average unemployment rate goes above 5.5 percent, an additional week of benefits would be given out. If the state’s unemployment rate exceeds 9 percent, people could receive a maximum of 20 weeks of benefits. If the legislation is enacted, it would begin in July 2023.