WHAT:NCCI reviews several thousand bills and regulations each year to identify themes that may impact the workers compensation system. The 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Trends Report ( and accompanying infographic) highlights some of the legislative activity shaping the workers compensation landscape this year, with countrywide, regional, and individual state trends as of July 31, 2026.
While the topics of interest identified in 2026 are mainly consistent with topics from prior years, the distribution of the number of bills for each issue varies year to year, offering valuable insight. This year, we saw a shift in the bill mix, with a noticeable increase in worker classification-related bills, primarily driven by numerous portable benefits for independent-contractor legislation across states.
BY THE NUMBERS (as of 7/31/26, across all jurisdictions):
- 1,102 state and federal bills monitored
- 210 proposed workers compensation–related regulations
- 167 bills enacted and 90 regulations adopted
KEY ISSUES:
- Worker Classification: Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Virginia enacted bills related to worker classification. At the federal level, Congress is considering US HR 6646, the Empowering App-Based Workers Act.
- Portable Benefits: Benefits attached to the worker rather than a specific employer, allowing coverage to follow the worker from job to job. This activity drove much of the increase in worker classification–related bills.
- Mental Injury: Most 2026 legislation centered on who can qualify for coverage, what conditions qualify, and which medical professionals are authorized to diagnose qualifying conditions.
- Also covered: single-payer health insurance; marijuana legalization and reimbursement; and hallucinogens/psychedelics.
2026 ISSUES SPOTLIGHT:
Emerging topics that may directly or indirectly impact workers compensation: workers compensation alternatives, workplace safety, artificial intelligence, and zero-estimated exposure policies.
TO LEARN MORE:Access the Complete Report or Access the accompanying Infographic.
