The Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee voted to concur with the House on S.117 on a recorded concurrence vote, advancing changes that move workers' compensation provisions into S.117, delay parts of the unemployment insurance modernization and require new reporting on late workers' compensation wage payments.

The concurrence matters because the changes shift implementation dates, clarify workers' compensation procedures for non-English speakers and create a one-year reporting requirement intended to measure the scope of late wage payments by employers.

Sophie, from the Office of Legislative Council, told the committee that S.117 “started off from the Department of Labor” and noted that “sections 1 through 4” tied to expedited rulemaking were removed after the Secretary of State raised concerns. She said those two offices “are going to work together in the summer looking at expedited rulemaking.”

The bill also moves statutory dates tied to the unemployment insurance modernization. Sophie explained that a provision moving the program's implementation from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, required corresponding date changes elsewhere in session law; the new draft relocates those dates accordingly.

On workers' compensation, Sophie said the bill carries four sections moved from a different bill that allow individual claimants to request medical case management services and provide translation services for claimants who are not fluent in English. She said that language is “our language” from prior committee work and that “it belongs” in the House bill. The committee discussed whether translation services could create civil-rights concerns; a member asked about costs and the source of translation services and Sophie indicated the Department of Labor needs to establish how it will provide translation.

The bill retains a clarified penalty structure for late weekly wage payments on workers' compensation claims. Sophie explained carriers and stakeholders agreed to wording that requires payment on the established date and clarifies when late penalties apply if payment is not mailed or deposited within the stated timeframe.

A new monitoring provision will require employers to report late-payment fees quarterly for one year; the Department of Labor will compile the data and report back to the General Assembly in January 2027 on frequency, reasons for late payments and the effectiveness of late-fee penalties. Sophie described the provision as “an attempt to get a sense of the scope of the problem.” The bill adds an administrative penalty for employers who fail to file the quarterly reports.

Committee members asked for clarity about other provisions that had been proposed and subsequently removed; Sophie confirmed the House stripped certain subsections (including an elimination of a subminimum wage subsection and a proposed change to layoff-notice thresholds) after Department of Labor concerns and follow-up work with stakeholders.

After discussion the committee chair asked for a concurrence vote. The roll call was held and recorded; senators present voted to concur and asked that Senator Thomas represent the committee’s concurrence on the Senate floor.

The committee’s action advances S.117 with the House amendments, while noting the Department of Labor and Secretary of State will continue to handle rulemaking language that was removed from the current draft.

Less central to the vote were follow-up tasks: staff and Legislative Council will confirm report formats and whether any additional procedural steps are needed to formally record the concurrence for committee files.