REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE TRENDS REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Overview of 2021 Legislative and Regulatory Activity ........................................................................................................................... 4 Legislative Trends and Hot Topics .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 COVID-19 Presumptions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Presumptions Beyond COVID-19 ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 Mental Injuries ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Legalization of Marijuana ....................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Single-Payer Health Insurance ................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Independent Contractors/Gig Economy ................................................................................................................................................. 7 2021 Legislative Sessions ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 2021 Workers Compensation Legislative Activity ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Hot Topic—COVID-19 ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10 COVID-19 Presumptions and Compensability–2021 State Activity .......................................................................................................... 16 Hot Topic—Presumptions Beyond COVID-19 ........................................................................................................................................... 17 Presumptions Beyond COVID-19—2021 State Activity ............................................................................................................................ 19 Hot Topic—Mental Injuries ....................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Hot Topic—Legalization of Marijuana ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 Marijuana Legalization .............................................................................................................................................................................. 27 States Addressing Reimbursement for Medical Marijuana in Workers Compensation........................................................................... 28 Hot Topic—Single-Payer Health Insurance ............................................................................................................................................... 29 Hot Topic—Independent Contractors/Gig Economy ................................................................................................................................ 32 Legislative, Judicial, and Other Activity By Zone....................................................................................................................................... 34 Page 1 of 83 © Copyright 2021 National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. 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REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE TRENDS REPORT Western Zone ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 35 New Administrators .............................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Highlights From the Western Zone ....................................................................................................................................................... 36 Recently Enacted Workers Compensation-Related Legislation in the Western Zone ......................................................................... 37 Workers Compensation Judicial Decisions of Interest ......................................................................................................................... 43 Latest Approved Loss Cost/Rate Changes ............................................................................................................................................ 45 Percentage of Total Benefit Costs ........................................................................................................................................................ 46 Cumulative Premium Level Change Since 2011 ................................................................................................................................... 47 Midwestern Zone ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 New Administrators .............................................................................................................................................................................. 49 Highlights From the Midwestern Zone ................................................................................................................................................. 49 Recently Enacted Workers Compensation-Related Legislation in the Midwestern Zone ................................................................... 50 Workers Compensation Judicial Decisions of Interest ......................................................................................................................... 53 Latest Approved Loss Cost/Rate Changes ............................................................................................................................................ 54 Percentage of Total Benefit Costs ........................................................................................................................................................ 55 Cumulative Premium Level Change Since 2011 ................................................................................................................................... 56 Southeastern Zone .................................................................................................................................................................................... 57 New Administrators .............................................................................................................................................................................. 58 Highlights From the Southeastern Zone ............................................................................................................................................... 58 Recently Enacted Workers Compensation-Related Legislation in the Southeastern Zone ................................................................. 59 Workers Compensation Judicial Decisions of Interest ......................................................................................................................... 64 Latest Approved Loss Cost/Rate Changes ............................................................................................................................................ 65 Percentage of Total Benefit Costs ........................................................................................................................................................ 66 Page 2 of 83 © Copyright 2021 National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. All Rights Reserved. REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE TRENDS REPORT Cumulative Premium Level Change Since 2011 ................................................................................................................................... 67 Northeastern Zone .................................................................................................................................................................................... 68 New Administrators .............................................................................................................................................................................. 69 Highlights From the Northeastern Zone ............................................................................................................................................... 69 Recently Enacted Workers Compensation-Related Legislation in the Northeastern Zone ................................................................