Lawmakers Move to Boost Worker Protections, Transparency

South Carolina lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills to strengthen protections for injured workers by increasing transparency in the workers' compensation claims process and raising minimum benefit levels for those who are totally disabled. House Bill 4820, introduced Dec. 16 and referred to the Committee on Judiciary, would increase the minimum weekly compensation rate for workers who are totally disabled, from $75 to $150, beginning July 1, 2027. Under current law, workers receive two-thirds of their average weekly wages, subject to minimum and maximum limits. The bill would also e...