A new bill filed by State Rep. Tim Longest in the North Carolina House seeks to temporarily raise unemployment insurance benefits during declared disaster periods to provide additional support, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 960 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘UI/Give Enhanced Benefits During Disasters.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill authorizes an increase in the weekly unemployment insurance benefit to $600 during periods when a disaster is declared under the North Carolina Emergency Management Act. This temporary enhancement is contingent upon meeting the certification requirements set by the Division of Employment Security, which must ensure that sufficient funds are earmarked within the Unemployment Insurance Fund to support the increased payments. Annually, starting Jan. 1, 2027, the division is required to report fund allocations and projections to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Unemployment Insurance. Additionally, if funds are insufficient, the enhancement will not take effect unless specifically mandated by the General Assembly. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Deb Butler proposed the most bills (25) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Longest graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil in 2013 with a BA and again in 2018 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil with a JD.
Longest, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 34th House district, replacing previous state representative Jack Nichols.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Longest, Brandon Lofton, Deb Butler, and Eric Ager | HB 960 | 04/10/2025 | UI/Give Enhanced Benefits During Disasters. |
| Tim Longest, Allen Buansi, Harry Warren, and Zack Hawkins | HB 931 | 04/10/2025 | End Predatory Towing Fees and Practices. |
| Tim Longest, Dante Pittman, Mary Belk, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 938 | 04/10/2025 | Right to Repair Digital Electronics Act. |
| Tim Longest | HB 955 | 04/10/2025 | NC Junk Fee Prevention Act. |
| Tim Longest and John M. Blust | HB 969 | 04/10/2025 | Study the Abolition of Contrib. Negligence. |
| Tim Longest, Jordan Lopez, Lindsey Prather, and Marcia Morey | HB 970 | 04/10/2025 | Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing. |
| Tim Longest, Allison A. Dahle, Bryan Cohn, and Pricey Harrison | HB 973 | 04/10/2025 | Uniform Restrictive Employment Agreement Act. |
| Tim Longest | HB 987 | 04/10/2025 | Create Police Leadership Fellows Program. |
| Tim Longest, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Tracy Clark | HB 990 | 04/10/2025 | Notice Requirements for Landlord Fees. |
| Tim Longest, Cynthia Ball, Vernetta Alston, and Zack Hawkins | HB 823 | 04/08/2025 | County Service Districts/Research & URSD. |
| Tim Longest, Amber M. Baker, Brian Turner, and Julia Greenfield | HB 798 | 04/07/2025 | Expand Access to Cold Weather Shelters/Funds. |
| Tim Longest, Beth Helfrich, Brandon Lofton, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 628 | 03/31/2025 | Reenact Child Tax Credit. |
| Tim Longest and Brandon Lofton | HB 630 | 03/31/2025 | Restore LEA Sales Tax Benefit. |
| Tim Longest, Allen Chesser, Neal Jackson, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 462 | 03/19/2025 | Personal Data Privacy/Social Media Safety. |
| Tim Longest, Carolyn G. Logan, and Mary Belk | HB 203 | 02/25/2025 | Home Warranty Act. |
| Tim Longest, Allen Buansi, Gloristine Brown, and Lindsey Prather | HB 181 | 02/24/2025 | Tax Relief for Working Families Act. |
| Tim Longest, Carolyn G. Logan, Jordan Lopez, and Marcia Morey | HB 167 | 02/21/2025 | Firearm in Unattended Vehicle/Safely Store. |
| Tim Longest, Allison A. Dahle, Erin Paré, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 151 | 02/18/2025 | SchCalFlex/Wake/CC. |
| Tim Longest, Abe Jones, Marcia Morey, and Phil Rubin | HB 129 | 02/13/2025 | Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act. |
| Tim Longest, Allen Buansi, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 131 | 02/13/2025 | Reenact Solar Energy Tax Credit. |
