Substitute House Bill No. 7141 proposes significant amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act, particularly concerning compensation for injured employees and the dependents of deceased employees. The bill repeals subsection (b) of section 31-308 and introduces a new compensation rate of seventy-five percent of the average weekly earnings for injured employees, with specific caps and minimums. It also establishes fixed compensation rates for various injuries, including the loss of limbs and organs, and mandates that administrative law judges award compensation for permanent partial loss of function based on the proportion of total loss found, rather than at their discretion. Additionally, employees who have reached maximum medical improvement but remain totally incapacitated will continue to receive total incapacity benefits.

The bill further modifies section 31-306, clarifying compensation distribution for dependents of deceased employees, ensuring that wholly dependent individuals receive full benefits for up to 312 weeks, while partially dependent individuals receive a minimum of $20 per week, capped at the full benefit rate or the average weekly contribution of the deceased. It also establishes a working group to study the adequacy of rehabilitation services for injured employees, which will include various stakeholders and is required to report its findings by February 1, 2026. The working group will be appointed within 30 days of the bill's passage and will dissolve upon submitting its report or on the specified date, whichever is later.