CALIFORNIA – EDD CONFIRMS PROCESSING ISSUE RESULTS IN NOTICE DELAYS
Thomas & Company has confirmed with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) that a processing issue caused a delay in notices being sent on multiple days throughout the last 6 months. Delays occurred on one day in October 2025, one day in January 2026, and several days in both December 2025 and February 2026, all of which have resulted in backlogs of claims arriving weeks—if not months—after indicated mailing.
The EDD further confirmed that they are working with their customer service representatives to issue guidance on considering timeliness for these responses once they are received. For any claims received late as a result of this processing issue, Thomas & Company will note the late delivery on the response and work with the state to ensure appropriate resolution.
COLORADO – HEALTHCARE STAFFING AGENCIES – SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTHCARE STAFFING MANDATORY REPORT DUE APRIL 30
Healthcare staffing client are reminded that the current Compliance Period for Supplemental Healthcare Staffing Agency (SHSA) reports closes on April 30, 2026. If not submitted, reports will be considered delinquent after this date. If you are required but have not already submitted your report, you can do so by accessing the Division’s Community Portal.
Should you need an extension or if your agency did not provide any services in Colorado between the time of October 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, please notify the Division at [email protected].
MAINE – ABLE AND AVAILABLE RULE UPDATE PUBLIC HEARING
The Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Unemployment Compensation is currently working to amend the rules governing able and available requirements relating to unemployment in response to Public Law 235 (formerly Legislative Document 706). PL235 repealed Section 1192, replacing it with a new Section 1192-A that provided updated eligibility conditions, including able and available requirements.
The public hearing is being held to solicit input from the public on statutory requirements that may need clarification and components of the rule that may need to be updated and will be held on Monday April 13 at 1 PM ET in The Frances Perkins Room at the Maine Department of Labor’s central office, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta. Comments can also be left online.
MAINE – PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Maine workers and employers have been funding the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program through payroll contributions since January 2025. Now, employees can begin applying for benefits through the new program. Applications opened on Monday, March 30, 2026. While applications can now be submitted, leave must occur on or after May 1, 2026 to qualify for PFML.
The PFML program provides up to 12 weeks of benefits for key life events, including medical leave, parental leave, family care leave, military family leave, and safe leave. The Maine PFML website has additional resources and information associated with the program.
MICHIGAN – WAGE REPORT REMINDER
Tax functions are now live in Michigan’s new MiUI platform and the first quarterly wage reports for 2026 are due Monday, April 27, 2026. All past due and future quarterly wage reports must now be submitted through MiUI.
When filing quarterly wage reports in MiUI, only the following file formats are accepted: MiUI Delimited, ICESA, EFW2, or XML. The MiWAM file format (Form 1028) will no longer be accepted.
MICHIGAN – CERTAIN ELECTRONIC NOTICES CONVERTED TO MAIL BY MIUI SYSTEM
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced that during the recent transition from MiWAM to MiUI, electronic mailing preferences for benefits-related notices were disabled in MiWAM. Therefore, some employers may begin receiving benefits mailings by paper.
While UIA is actively working on a resolution, if a resolution is not feasible, paper delivery may continue until MiUI RS for Benefits goes live later this summer. At that time, mailing preferences will become available in the MiUI platform. Please note, tax related notices have not been impacted.
While Thomas & Company has not seen an increase in mailings from Michigan at this time, we ask that you please remain aware of this potential situation. If you receive any unemployment benefits related documentation, please forward to Thomas & Company via [email protected] or upload to SHIELD immediately upon receipt so we can promptly review and audit for accuracy.
PENNSYLVANIA – CITY OF PHILADEPLHIA SHORTENED VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE PERIOD
The City of Philadelphia’s Voluntary Disclosure Program (VDP) provides businesses and individuals an opportunity to come into compliance with the City’s tax rules. During Voluntary Disclosure, individuals and businesses are responsible for back taxes and unfiled tax obligations associated with a set lookback period. Recent changes have now reduced the lookback, or disclosure period, from six years to only three years. In exchange for participating in the VDP, including setting up a tax account, self-reporting unmet tax obligations, and filing all necessary returns for the disclosure period, the City will not audit or bill for any years before the disclosure period. Additional information about Philadelphia’s Voluntary Disclosure Program can be found on their website.
VIRGIN ISLANDS – ON TRACK TO PAY BACK LONGSTANDING FEDERAL LOAN
Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and Labor Commissioner Gary Molloy announced Monday that the territory’s unemployment trust fund has moved into the positive for the first time in more than 15 years. As of March 20, the territory’s trust fund held a net positive balance of more than $4 million, and VI is on track to make its final federal loan payment in May. If the territory can remain with a positive balance without further federal loan assistance, employers will see a reprieve from historically high FUTA taxes in 2027. Currently paying approximately $357 per employee, employers will see their taxes return to approximately $42 per employee.
Please note, at this time, the loan has not yet been officially paid back. Virgin Islands must ensure all outstanding balances are paid as of 11/10/2026. Thomas & Company will continue to watch and share additional information when (if) this occurs and the associated elimination of the FUTA credit reduction.
ILLINOIS – LEGISLATURE INTRODUCES NEW BILL FOR STRIKING WORKERS
The Illinois House Labor & Commerce Committee recently voted to advance HB2565, which would amend the state’s Unemployment Insurance Act to provide unemployment benefits to striking workers. The bill would provide a two week ineligibility period after which individuals would be eligible for benefits when they are found to be unemployed due to a labor dispute.
OREGON – VOTERS TO DECIDE ON STATEWIDE TRANSIT TAX INCREASE
Voters will decide this May whether legislation enacting an increase to the statewide transit tax (STT) will go into effect. The statewide transit tax was originally implemented in July 2018 with employers being required to withhold tax from the wages of Oregon residents (regardless of where the work is performed) and nonresidents who perform work in Oregon. Since that time, the tax has not increased, remaining at 0.1%.
A special session in 2025 adopted amendments to increase the rate from 0.1% to 0.2%. However, after a successful certification of Initiative Petition 302, this decision will now be referred to voters. Until the election results are finalized, the current STT rate (0.1%) will remain in effect.
