State of the States March 27, 2026

National: 

• Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is hosting a free 30-minute webinar on April 9^th at 2pm ET to discuss its Benefit Delivery Expenses in the New York Workers’ Compensation System report. As a reminder, this report reviews current trends influencing the cost of medical care and income benefits for injured workers in New York, along with an examination of the primary components of medical cost containment and litigation expenses. Registration is required.  
• The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) released new updates to its Court Case Insights resource, which provides an interactive, nationwide view of workers’ compensation court decisions and legal developments. The tool allows stakeholders to track issues such as exclusive remedy, marijuana legalization, attorney fees, first responder presumptions, and COVID19related litigation. 
• Risk and Insurance released Timely Care Matters Access to Treatment is Critical for Workers’ Compensation Injuries white paper, emphasizing that timely access to appropriate medical care is essential for faster recovery and improved claim outcomes. The report highlights ongoing challenges for both injured workers and adjusters in navigating the healthcare system, especially under heavy caseloads.  
• MedRisk released their 2026 Trend Report, which outlines how the workers’ compensation and auto casualty industries are adapting to rising claim complexity. The report states that three major forces are shaping the landscape: the rapid integration of scalable AI into claims workflows, improvements in pipelinetocare that help injured workers access treatment faster, and stronger reliance on clinical evidence to guide decisionmaking.   

Connecticut –  HB 5274 was referred to the Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis. As a reminder, HB 5274 would require the Workers’ Compensation Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of Connecticut’s workers’ compensation system, evaluate its current operations, and provide recommendations for potential legislative changes. The commission must finalize its findings and submit a report with proposed improvements by January 1, 2027.  

Florida – SB 1380 died in the Banking and Insurance Committee this week.  
As a reminder, the bill would have made employers who hire unauthorized workers personally and fully liable for all medical and treatment costs if those workers are injured on the job and prohibits shifting these costs to insurers or any third party.  

Idaho – This week, the Idaho Senate introduced S 1425, legislation that would expand the definition of “first responder” under the state’s workers’ compensation laws. The bill adds coroners, medicolegal death investigators, and qualifying coroner employees—those whose duties primarily involve determining the cause and manner of death—to the list of first responders eligible for workers’ compensation benefits for posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSI). 

Iowa – This  week HF 978 was placed on the calendar to be heard before the Ways and Means Committee. As a reminder, HF 978 aims to allow individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to use psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, commonly known as "magic mushrooms." It outlines regulations for the cultivation, distribution, and use of psilocybin. Notably, the bill does not restrict the source of PTSD to work-related incidents. 

 Maryland – Maryland is considering bills to broaden the hypertension presumption for firefighters and extend heart and hypertension coverage to correctional officers in another county.

• HB 347/SB 90 are companion bills that aim to revise and broaden Maryland’s existing hypertension presumption for firefighters. Specifically, it establishes that certain firefighters, firefighting instructors, rescue squad members, advanced life support unit members, and members of the Office of the State Fire Marshal who develop hypertension are presumed to have a compensable occupational disease under Maryland workers’ compensation law. 
• HB 878/SB 449 are companion bills that aim to extend heart disease and hypertension presumptions to correctional officers in Carroll County. Specifically, these bills expand Maryland’s workers’ compensation presumption for occupational diseases to include Carroll County correctional deputies who suffer from heart disease or hypertension, provided certain statutory conditions are met. 

 Pennsylvania – This week, two workers’ compensation bills saw movement in Pennsylvania: 

• SB 1215 was pulled from Committee consideration this week. As a reminder, SB 1215 aimed to update reimbursement rules for topical medications under Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Act. If passed, the bill would set new payment limits for compound drugs, capping reimbursement at $400 per 30-day supply plus a $20 compounding fee and prohibits reimbursement for compounds that duplicate commercially available products. 
• The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed SB 1053 this week. This legislation would ensure that volunteer firefighters and emergency.

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