National –
- National Council on Compensation Insurance’s (NCC) latest July State of the Economy report found that hiring has accelerated significantly in 2026, with employers adding an average of 92,000 jobs per month during the first half of the year compared to just 10,000 per month in 2025. The organization noted that stronger employment and continued wage growth are expanding payrolls, which could drive higher workers' compensation premium volume. At the same time, NCCI cautioned that an influx of less-experienced workers may put upward pressure on injury frequency, as newly hired employees tend to face greater workplace safety risks. The report also highlighted moderating inflation and relatively low medical inflation, which could help contain future workers' compensation claim costs. Check out this Business Insider article to learn more.
- On Thursday, July 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT, Safety National will host a complimentary webinar examining the role chronic pain plays in prolonged workers' compensation claims. The session will focus on identifying the common reasons injured workers fail to progress as expected, the impact psychosocial factors can have on recovery and return-to-work outcomes, when treatment plans should be reassessed and additional clinical resources engaged, and practical strategies to improve functional outcomes while reducing claim duration. The webinar reflects a growing industry focus on addressing chronic pain through evidence-based, function-oriented approaches that help injured workers re-engage in recovery and achieve better outcomes. Register here.
Alaska – HB 14 became law earlier this week without the signature of Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The legislation revises the criteria firefighters must meet to qualify for the presumption that certain cancers are work-related. Specifically, the bill extends post-separation coverage for the cancer presumption from five years to ten years for conditions including brain cancer, melanoma, and leukemia. In addition, firefighters will now earn six months of post-separation coverage for each year of service, up from the current three months. HB 14 also lowers the service requirement to qualify for the presumption from seven years to six years and reduces the number of required medical screening exams. Under current law, firefighters must complete seven examinations showing no signs of disease during their first seven years of employment. Under HB 14, firefighters need only complete three examinations, conducted at least once every two years during their first six years of employment, to qualify for the presumption.
New Hampshire– Governor Kelly Ayotte signed HB 1245, which allows independent contractors to voluntarily participate in portable benefits plans without affecting their legal status as independent contractors. Specifically, the bill permits businesses or individuals that hire independent contractors to voluntarily contribute funds to a contractor's portable benefits account. These funds may be used to cover health insurance premiums, disability coverage, and other eligible benefit-related expenses.
Texas – The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC) released the First Responder System Data Report, a free report that provides data on workers’ compensation claims involving first responders in Texas. The report includes the number of claims filed by year, carrier, and nature of injury; the amount and type of income benefits received; and the amount and type of medical bills paid. It also provides information on the number of dispute proceedings, the most frequently disputed issues, and the number of designated doctor appointments.
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