TX SB1950

Increases work history requirements for unemployment benefits eligibility from two calendar quarters to three calendar quarters during the base period, and raises the wage requirement after a prior benefit year from six times to 37 times the individual's benefit amount

Requires claimants to perform at least five work search activities weekly, including job applications, resume submissions, job fair attendance, interviews, employer follow-ups, or commission-approved training, subject to verification by the Texas Workforce Commission

Mandates identity verification for all claimants using a statistically valid fraud risk assessment methodology, with annual audits and government-issued ID verification for high-risk claims

Requires the commission to cross-check all claims against multiple databases including the National Association of State Workforce Agencies integrity data hub, new hire directories, death records, incarceration records, and the SAVE immigration verification program

Strengthens fraud penalties by extending benefit disqualification to five calendar years following willful nondisclosure or misrepresentation, and makes cancellation of remaining benefits mandatory rather than discretionary for attempted fraud

Takes effect January 1, 2026, applying only to claims filed on or after that date