States / Tennessee / SB 1981

SB 1981 Enacted

Workers Compensation - As enacted, adds a requirement that an award of attorneys' fees and costs incurred when an employer unreasonably denies a workers' compensation claim or unreasonably fails to timely initiate any of the benefits associated with the claim must be based on a finding by the workers' compensation judge that the employer's conduct was unreasonable; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 50, Chapter 6.

Introduced
In Committee
Floor
Crossed Over
Passed
Enacted
May 5, 2026 · House
Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
May 5, 2026 · House
Pub. Ch. 845
Apr 27, 2026 · House
Signed by Governor.
Apr 17, 2026 · House
Transmitted to Governor for action.
Apr 16, 2026 · House
Signed by H. Speaker
Apr 16, 2026 · Senate
Signed by Senate Speaker
Apr 15, 2026 · House
Enrolled and ready for signatures
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 2 - HA0962)
Apr 10, 2026 · House
Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/13/2026
Apr 7, 2026 · House
Passed H., as am., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0
Apr 7, 2026 · House
H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0962)
Apr 7, 2026 · House
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0961)
Apr 7, 2026 · House
Subst. for comp. HB.
Mar 16, 2026 · House
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Mar 12, 2026 · House
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 33, Nays 0
Mar 12, 2026 · House
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0581)
Mar 10, 2026 · House
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/12/2026
Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
Feb 24, 2026 · House
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026
Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Feb 2, 2026 · House
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
Jan 22, 2026 · House
Filed for introduction