Subcommittee advances SB 1519 to change workers’ compensation benefit formula
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Summary
The joint Ways and Means General Government subcommittee advanced Senate Bill 1519 to the full committee with a do-pass recommendation after a staff summary and brief supporter remarks. The bill adjusts temporary and permanent total disability benefit formulas and would take effect for claims with entry on or after Jan. 1, 2027.
The joint Ways and Means General Government subcommittee voted to advance Senate Bill 1519 to the full committee with a do-pass recommendation after a staff presentation and brief supportive remarks.
Kim, presenting the bill to the subcommittee, said, "SB 1519 changes the formula for calculating workers' compensation benefits for temporary total disability and permanent total disability claims." She summarized the core changes: the temporary disability rate would increase from 66 and two-thirds percent to 75 percent of the injured worker's weekly wage for wages below 75 percent of the state average weekly wage, and would be 65 percent for wages above 75 percent of the state average weekly wage. Kim said minimum benefits for temporary disability and minimum and maximum limits for permanent total disability tied to the state average weekly wage would remain in place and that the provisions would apply to claims with a date of entry on or after Jan. 1, 2027.
Kim told the panel the fiscal impact to the insurance fund is "indeterminate" and depends on the number of claimants; she said the increase would be funded through higher risk rates paid by state agencies and that the Legislative Fiscal Office recommends moving the bill to the full joint committee with a do-pass recommendation.
Sen. Meek offered brief support on the floor, saying lawmakers should consider the realities faced by low-wage injured workers: "When somebody is injured on the job to no fault of their own ... it becomes almost impossible to both pay their rent and pay their living expenses and support their family," and indicated a vote in favor.
Speaker 2 (Kim) moved the bill to the full committee with a do-pass recommendation; the record shows support from Sen. Meek but a detailed roll-call tally was not provided in the transcript and the motion appears to have been passed by voice or unanimous consent. The subcommittee discussed and assigned floor carriers for the next steps — Taylor for the Senate and Jason Graeber for the House were mentioned — and then closed the work session.
The subcommittee chair announced the committee will hear HB 4016 (tax compliance) and HB 4014 (state finance) at the next meeting on Wednesday and then adjourned.
Actions recorded in the transcript indicate a formal motion to advance SB 1519 with a do-pass recommendation; the transcript does not include a recorded numerical vote tally.
