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TennesseeSB 1861114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

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

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Workers Compensation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More injured workers meet rating requirements

Beginning July 1, 2026, injured Tennessee workers can combine impairment ratings to meet a workers’ compensation requirement. The ratings must total at least 10% of the body as a whole, replacing the single-rating requirement. Authorized treating doctors must determine the ratings using the AMA Guides. The law also recognizes certifications from multiple treating doctors. Meeting this rating threshold alone does not guarantee benefits or set a payment amount.

New funding and workers’ compensation procedures

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee broadens and renames the Subsequent Injury and Vocational Recovery Fund. The administrator must deposit money collected under Tennessee Code § 50-6-208(d) into this fund. Spending is limited to defending the administrator against fund claims, vocational recovery help for eligible workers, and bureau computer systems. Eligibility for recovery help follows existing rules in § 50-6-208(i). In the procedure under § 50-6-235, filing a motion replaces petitioning. Compliance with the court’s order replaces the duty to respond to the petition on time. The law also replaces “request for hearing” with “petition for benefit determination” in the affected benefits procedure.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Jessie Seal

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 125 • No: 15

House vote • 3/30/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026

Yes: 82 • No: 8

Senate vote • 3/5/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/5/2026

Yes: 26 • No: 5

Senate vote • 3/3/2026

SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 2

Senate vote • 2/17/2026

SENATE COMMERCE AND LABOR COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

    5/5/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 705

    5/5/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/14/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/2/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/2/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/1/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/1/2026Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 8, PNV 0

    3/30/2026House

  9. Subst. for comp. HB.

    3/30/2026House

  10. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    3/9/2026House

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/5/2026Senate

  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/5/2026Senate

  13. Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 5

    3/5/2026Senate

  14. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/5/2026

    3/3/2026Senate

  15. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

    3/3/2026Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

    2/24/2026Senate

  17. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

    2/17/2026Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 2/17/2026

    2/10/2026Senate

  19. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

    2/2/2026Senate

  20. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    1/22/2026Senate

  21. Filed for introduction

    1/21/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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