Tennessee · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026) · Bill

SB 1981: 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.

Enacted Last action May 5, 2026: Pub. Ch. 845

Plain-language summary

SB 1981 is a bill introduced in the Tennessee Senate on January 22, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: 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. Primary sponsor: Richard Briggs (Republican). Most recent recorded action (May 5, 2026): Pub. Ch. 845.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor: Richard Briggs (Republican).