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TennesseeHB 0128114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50, Chapter 6, Part 2, relative to workers' compensation.

Sponsored By: William Lamberth (Republican)

Became Law

Workers Compensation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 4 mixed.

Workers must give injury notice in 15 days

Beginning July 1, 2025, you must give your employer written notice right away and within 15 days of a work injury. For gradual injuries, give notice within 15 days of when you knew or should have known you had a lasting impairment or could not do normal work. If notice is late, pay is not owed for the time before you gave notice, unless your employer already knew or a workers' compensation judge excuses the delay. The notice must be signed and list your name and address, and the time, place, nature, and cause of the injury. Small mistakes in the notice do not block benefits unless the employer proves they were harmed by them.

Death benefits cover burial costs

Beginning July 1, 2025, death benefits can cover the costs of burial, cremation, or other lawful disposition of remains. These costs are added along with medical costs when a worker dies from a job injury.

Age limit in one comp rule is 35

Beginning July 1, 2025, one workers’ compensation rule now uses a minimum age of 35 instead of 30. People age 30–34 who counted on the old rule may no longer qualify.

New court rules for workers’ comp

Beginning July 1, 2025, a 60‑day deadline applies only when the presiding judge has not set a hearing. The presiding judge may let parties raise issues that a mediator did not certify. Judges can fine parties up to $50 per occurrence for contempt. You can ask for a hearing within 5 business days and then appeal, but the main case keeps moving.

Extends some workers’ comp rules beyond 2025

Beginning July 1, 2025, the law keeps two time‑limited rules going. A deadline tied to §50‑6‑226 now runs until June 30, 2030. Also, §50‑6‑208(i)(7) continues to apply after June 30, 2025 because the cutoff is removed.

New terms and standards for comp judges

Beginning July 1, 2025, workers’ compensation judges must have at least 7 years’ experience and be at least 35. Judges may serve up to four full terms, and filling a short vacancy does not count against those four terms. The chief judge serves a six‑year term and can be reappointed by the administrator for competent, responsible, and impartial service. Appeals board judges serve six‑year terms; the governor may reappoint up to three more terms and must name a presiding judge.

Removes two outdated workers’ comp rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, the law removes two workers’ compensation provisions: §50‑6‑236(b)(3) and §50‑6‑245. The real‑world impact depends on what those deleted sections used to require.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • William Lamberth

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Clark Boyd

    Republican • House

  • Mark Cochran

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 128 • No: 20

Senate vote • 3/13/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/13/2025

Yes: 26 • No: 5

House vote • 3/3/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/3/2025

Yes: 78 • No: 11

House vote • 2/26/2025

HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

Yes: 18 • No: 4

House vote • 2/12/2025

HOUSE BANKING AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 86

    4/4/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

    4/4/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    3/28/2025

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    3/20/2025House

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    3/19/2025House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    3/19/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    3/14/2025House

  8. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    3/13/2025Senate

  9. Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 5, PNV 1

    3/13/2025Senate

  10. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    3/6/2025Senate

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    3/4/2025House

  12. Passed H., Ayes 78, Nays 11, PNV 1

    3/3/2025House

  13. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/3/2025

    2/27/2025House

  14. Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

    2/26/2025House

  15. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/27/2025

    2/26/2025House

  16. Meeting Canceled

    2/19/2025House

  17. Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 2/26/2025

    2/19/2025House

  18. Sponsor(s) Added.

    2/12/2025House

  19. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee

    2/12/2025House

  20. Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 2/19/2025

    2/12/2025House

  21. Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 2/12/2025

    2/5/2025House

  22. Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee

    1/28/2025House

  23. Ref. to Commerce Committee

    1/16/2025House

  24. P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees

    1/15/2025House

  25. Intro., P1C.

    1/14/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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