State of the States April 3, 2026

National: 

• • Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released Impact of Networks on Claim Outcomes, a study examining how medical provider networks influence workers’ compensation claim results. The report found that claims treated within certified provider networks had lower medical payments, faster access to care, shorter durations of temporary disability, and were less likely to involve litigation, ultimately leading to lower overall claim costs.
  • National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) released a new report and finalized agenda for upcoming seminar:
    • Q1 2026 Quarterly Economics Briefing was released this week by NCCI. The report highlights economic and labor marketrket trends affecting workers’ compensation. The report found that while overall economic growth remained resilient in 2025, the labor market weakened significantly, posting the slowest job growth since 2003 with only 116,000 net new jobs for the year. Despite the hiring slowdown, elevated wage growth continued to support workers’ compensation payroll and premium levels, helping offset minimal employment gains. NCCI identified four major trends to watch in 2026: the breadth of the hiring slowdown, persistently high wages, fewer low tenured workers, and rising geopolitical uncertainty, all of which could shape the workers’ compensation environment moving forward.
    • Registration is now open for NCCI Annual Insights Symposium (AIS) 2026. The event will take place at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes in Orlando, FL from May 11-13^th. Registration and agenda can be found here.

   

 Arizona –   SB 1428’s striker amendment is scheduled to be heard in the Arizona Appropriations Committee this week. SB 1428 striker would create new requirements for zero estimated exposure workers’ compensation policies. It mandates that employers attest they have no employees and zero payroll exposure and requires notification to insurers within 60 days if an employee is hired. 

Louisiana – Earlier this week, Louisiana lawmakers introduced HB 1101, a workers’ compensation measure that would statutorily define maximum medical improvement (MMI) and revise the duration of wage loss benefits. The bill defines MMI as the point at which an injured employee’s condition is unlikely to substantially improve, even if ongoing medical treatment is required to manage symptoms or chronic pain. Once MMI is reached, HB 1101 would limit the payment of wageloss benefits to a maximum of 156 weeks. 

Washington – SB 5847 was enacted this week by the Governor. As a reminder, SB 5847 outlines changes to Washington State’s workers’ compensation system related to medical provider networks, treatment guidelines, and oversight processes. The bill includes provisions regarding worker choice of medical provider and establishes standards for monitoring and administering medical care for injured workers.  

Wisconsin – 

• Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed AB 651 into law earlier this week. This comprehensive workers’ compensation reform package increases benefits, expands mental health coverage for first responders, and strengthens penalties for employers that operate without required insurance. Specifically, the legislation raises the maximum permanent partial disability (PPD) rate from $446 to $454 per week, with a subsequent increase to $462 per week scheduled to follow.
• SB 168 and AB 158 both failed this week in the Senate. As a reminder, these companion bills aimed to modify the conditions of liability for workers’ compensation benefits for emergency and public service personnel. If passed, the bills would have expanded coverage to include emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff.

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