House Bill 128 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to workers' compensation. Key changes include the requirement for injured employees to provide written notice of their injury to their employer within fifteen days, with specific provisions for gradual or cumulative injuries. The bill also modifies the age requirement for certain positions from thirty to thirty-five years and extends the term limits for judges on the workers' compensation appeals board. Additionally, it introduces new provisions for sanctions against parties for contempt, allowing judges to impose fines and enabling a process for appealing such sanctions.

Other notable amendments include the addition of burial costs to the compensation for medical expenses, the extension of certain deadlines from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030, and the removal of outdated language regarding experience requirements for judges. The bill aims to streamline the workers' compensation process and enhance the efficiency of the appeals board while ensuring that employees are adequately informed of their rights and responsibilities following a workplace injury. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 50-6-201, 50-6-208(i)(7), 50-6-208, 50-6-218(a), 50-6-218, 50-6-218(b), 50-6-226(a)(2)(A), 50-6-226, 50-6-226(d)(2)(B), 50-6-236(b)(3), 50-6-236, 50-6-238(a)(1), 50-6-238, 50-6-238(a)(2)(B), 50-6-238(a)(2)(D), 50-6-238(a), 50-6-238(b)(3), 50-6-239(a), 50-6-239, 50-6-239(b), 50-6-245