KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

HB1313 • 2026

Employees, Employers

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50, Chapter 3, Part 4, relative to occupational safety and health penalties.

Labor
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Lamberth, Johnson
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact penalty amounts set by OSHA are not specified in the provided official source material.

Changing Occupational Safety Penalties

This bill updates Tennessee's occupational safety penalty amounts to match those set by OSHA.

What This Bill Does

  • Updates the maximum fine for each violation of workplace safety rules from $7,000 to the amount allowed by OSHA.
  • Increases the maximum fine for willful and repeated violations from $70,000 to the amount allowed by OSHA.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employers who violate occupational safety rules in Tennessee.
  • Employees working under employers who might face these fines.

Terms To Know

OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal agency that sets standards for workplace safety.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill only changes penalty amounts; it does not alter the actual safety rules.
  • It is unclear how many employers will be affected by these new penalties.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee

  2. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  3. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  5. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  6. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  7. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1289
By Johnson

HOUSE BILL 1313
By Lamberth

HB1313
000171
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50,
Chapter 3, Part 4, relative to occupational safety
and health penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-3-403, is amended by deleting the
language "of up to seven thousand dollars ($7,000)" and substituting "of up to the maximum
penalty allowed by the federal occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-3-404(a), is amended by deleting
the language "of up to seven thousand dollars ($7,000)" and substituting "of up to the maximum
penalty allowed by the federal occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)".
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-3-405(a), is amended by deleting
the language "of up to seven thousand dollars ($7,000)" and substituting "of up to the maximum
penalty allowed by the federal occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)".
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-3-405(b), is amended by deleting
the language "of up to seventy thousand dollars ($70,000)" and substituting "of up to the
maximum penalty allowed by the federal occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)".
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-3-406, is amended by deleting the
language "of up to seven thousand dollars ($7,000)" and substituting "of up to the maximum
penalty allowed by the federal occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)".
SECTION 6. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to prohibited conduct occurring on or after that date.