Update Applicable to:	Effective Date
All Employers in Connecticut	Act in General: May 20, 2025   Workers Comp: July 1, 2025

What happened?

On May 20, 2025, Connecticut House Bill 6863 was signed into law, amending the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act and reversing a recent court decision that expanded benefit eligibility for injured workers.

Overview:

Changes Under HB 6863: These changes restore longstanding workers’ compensation practices, limit employer liability, and clarify benefit eligibility following maximum medical improvement (MMI).

1. Limits on ALJ Discretion: Administrative law judges must now award permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits once a worker reaches MMI, eliminating the option to continue temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits.

2. Cap on PPD Benefits: PPD benefits for workers unable to return to their usual job are capped at 60 weeks and require participation in a vocational rehabilitation program. These benefits are offset by any temporary total disability benefits already received.

3. Updated Injury Compensation Schedule: The law increases compensation for cervical spine injuries and adds the esophagus and intestinal tract to the benefit schedule.

4. Expanded Survivor Benefits: Parents of deceased employees are now eligible for death benefits when no spouse or dependents exist.

5. Retroactive Application: The changes apply to claims filed on or after July 1, 1993, and take effect July 1, 2025.

Additional Information:

In March 2025, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued a ruling in Gardner v. Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services that significantly altered the interpretation of the state’s workers’ compensation law:

• The Court held that administrative law judges (ALJs) had discretion to continue awarding temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits for up to 520 weeks, even after a worker reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).

• This overturned prior rulings that required conversion to permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits at MMI.

Employer Concerns

• The ruling was expected to increase workers’ compensation costs, especially for self-insured municipalities and the state.

• It reversed a 2024 appellate court decision and a prior workers’ compensation board ruling that had favored the employer’s position—that ALJs had no such discretion.

Source References

• Connecticut HB 6863 – An Act Concerning Deficiency Appropriations For The Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025, And Compensation Paid To Injured Employees And The Parents Of A Deceased Employee Under The Workers’ Compensation Act
• Connecticut Supreme Court – Gardner v. Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (2025)

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