Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Tennessee General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 705
SENATE BILL NO. 1861
By Johnson, Seal
Substituted for: House Bill No. 1630
By Lamberth, Cochran, Boyd
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50, Chapter 6, Part 2, relative to workers'
compensation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-6-208(d), is amended by deleting the
first sentence of the subsection and substituting:
The sums collected by the administrator as provided in this section must be deposited
by the administrator in a special fund, which must be termed the "subsequent injury and
vocational recovery fund", to be disbursed by the administrator only for the purposes stated
in this section, for costs associated with legal counsel to defend the administrator in actions
claiming compensation from the subsequent injury and vocational recovery fund pursuant to
this section, for costs associated with providing vocational recovery assistance to eligible
employees pursuant to subsection (i), and for costs associated with implementing and
maintaining a computer system for the bureau of workers' compensation.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-6-235(a)(1), is amended by deleting
"petition" and substituting "file a motion with".
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-6-235(a)(2), is amended by deleting
"respond to the petition in a timely fashion" and substituting "comply with the court's order".
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-6-239(c)(3), is amended by deleting
"request for hearing" and substituting "petition for benefit determination".
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-6-242(a)(2)(A), is amended by deleting
"an impairment rating of at least ten percent (10%) to the body as whole, that has been determined
according to the AMA guides as defined by § 50-6-102, by the authorized treating physician" and
substituting "impairment ratings totaling at least ten percent (10%) to the body as whole, that have
been determined according to the AMA guides, by the authorized treating physicians".
SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-6-242(a)(2)(B), is amended by deleting
"physician has" and substituting "physicians have" and by further deleting "physician's certification"
and substituting "physicians' certifications".
SECTION 7. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
SENATE BILL NO. 1861
PASSED: March 30, 2026
RAND
SPEAKER OF T1
•
CAMERO~ON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
/kc;\ APPROVED this f4t:t day of 2026
BILL LEE, GOVERNOR
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