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 increases the experience requirement for judges from five to seven years. Additionally, it introduces new provisions for the imposition of sanctions by workers' compensation judges for contempt, allowing fines of up to fifty dollars per occurrence.

Other notable amendments include extending the term limits for judges on the workers' compensation appeals board and the chief judge, as well as clarifying the process for presenting issues not certified by a mediator. The bill also adds coverage for burial costs in compensation claims and extends certain deadlines from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030. 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