Bill > S703

This bill updates the Workers' Compensation Act by increasing several key benefits and establishing an automatic annual adjustment mechanism. Specifically, the legislation raises the minimum weekly compensation for totally disabled workers from $30 to $50 and significantly increases the maximum compensation amounts for various types of injuries and disfigurements. For serious facial or head disfigurement, the maximum compensation increases from $20,000 to $56,000, while serious bodily disfigurement compensation rises from $10,000 to $28,000. The bill also introduces a new annual adjustment process where the North Carolina Industrial Commission will automatically increase these compensation limits based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for goods and services. This adjustment will occur each July 1st, with increases rounded to the nearest dollar, but only if the CPI shows a positive percentage change from the previous June. These updates aim to ensure that workers' compensation benefits keep pace with inflation and provide more adequate financial support for workers who suffer serious injuries or disfigurements in the workplace. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2026, providing a clear timeline for implementation.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S703