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SB1289 • 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
Johnson, Lamberth
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about OSHA penalty amounts, leaving some uncertainty.

Changing Penalties for Occupational Safety Violations

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

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the maximum fine for each violation of workplace safety rules from $7,000 to what is allowed by OSHA.
  • Increases the maximum fine for repeated or willful violations from $70,000 to what is allowed by OSHA.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employers who break workplace safety rules in Tennessee.
  • The state of Tennessee and its agencies that enforce workplace safety laws.

Terms To Know

OSHA
Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which sets national standards for workplace safety.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact penalty amounts set by OSHA.
  • It is unclear what the exact impact on Tennessee employers and workers will be once this change takes effect.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  2. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee

  3. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  5. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  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 
HOUSE BILL 1313
By Lamberth

SENATE BILL 1289
By Johnson

SB1289
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.