Bill > SB1981

This bill amends Tennessee law concerning workers' compensation, specifically focusing on situations where an employer contests an employee's work injury. It introduces provisions that, for injuries occurring between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2030, allow the court of workers' compensation claims to award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to an employee if the employer fails to provide necessary medical treatment or unreasonably denies or delays benefits. This includes situations where the employer contests the medical cause, permanency, or extent of an employee's work injury with a medical opinion that differs from the employee's designated physician (referred to as the "form C-42 panel physician"). The bill also clarifies that an expedited hearing order, which is a preliminary ruling, does not by itself prevent or delay an award of attorney's fees and costs if the employer's actions are deemed unreasonable.