Lawmakers propose fixes for Virginiaâs beleaguered unemployment insurance program Ned Oliver/ Virginia Mercury By Ned Oliver | December 24, 2020 at 5:18 PM EST - Updated December 24 at 5:18 PM Lawmakers say they plan to propose legislative fixes next month to speed unemployment claims in Virginia, which ranks last in the country for quickly processing applications that require staff review. The legislatureâs Commission on Unemployment discussed the proposals in a Wednesday meeting, outlining bills that, among other things, would reduce the programâs reliance on paper mail and prevent the state from stopping benefits once theyâve started without first investigating. âAll of the legislation ⦠is aimed at helping things go more smoothly, with the goal of starting to get the wheels moving for you but also preparing Virginia to weather a storm like this in the future,â said Del. Sally Hudson, D-Charlottesville, a labor economist at the University of Virginia.