Bills in 3 States Would Bar Collection of Comp Premiums for Independent Contractors

While federal policymakers warn about the loss of labor law protections for workers misclassified as independent contractors, state lawmakers in Tennessee, Nebraska and South Dakota have introduced measures that aim to protect employers from workers' comp insurers that insist on collecting premiums no matter how a business' workers are classified. Tennessee became the latest to join the bandwagon with the introduction of House Bill 558 by Rep. Jimmy Eldridge, R-Jackson, and Senate Bill 171 by Sen. Bill Eldridge, R-Murfreesboro. The companion measures would prohibit insurers from charg...