Grand Canyon Times

The House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee has unanimously approved this week a bill to increase Arizona's unemployment benefits.

HB 2805, sponsored by Rep. David Cook (R-8), is a bipartisan bill that would increase the state’s maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit from $240 to $300.

“Arizona is currently 49th in the U.S. for maximum weekly benefits,” Cook said in a statement. “If HB 2805 becomes law, unemployed Arizonans would be eligible for a higher benefit – and that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who are struggling to get by. I truly appreciate each of my colleagues who are supporting this effort. Right now, Arizona isn’t in line with its neighboring states. We have a good opportunity to correct that – and I hope that we do.”

HB 2805 has 32 co-sponsors, including Representatives Richard Andrade, Brenda Barton, Regina Bolding Jr, Kelli Butler, Andrés Cano, César Chávez, Andrea Dalessandro, Domingo DeGrazia, Mitzi Epstein, Diego Espinoza, Charlene Fernandez, John Fillmore, Mark Finchem, Randall Friese, Alma Hernandez, Daniel Hernandez Jr., Joel John, Aaron Lieberman, Jennifer Longdon, Robert Meza, Jennifer Pawlik, Kevin Payne, Beverly Pingerelli, Pamella Powers Hannley, Diego Rodriguez, Judy Schwiebert, Amish Shah, Lorenzo Sierra, Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, Raquel Terán, Myron Tsosie, and Justin Wilmeth.