The legislation that cleared the House and Senate in a single afternoon is the product of intense negotiations resolved with unusual alacrity by traditional antagonists at the state Capitol on business and insurance issues: unions vs. business, and trial lawyers vs. insurers. The bipartisan clarifying language was an element of a partisan budget bill passed to address a Medicaid deficiency. The bill cleared both chambers on party-line votes. The unanimous court decision issued March 18 in Gardner vs. Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services focused on a narrow question with far-reaching impact: How much discretion do administrative law judges overseeing workers’ compensation claims have in awarding temporary benefits? In addition to clarifying the language cited by the court, which limited total compensation, the legislation also slightly expanded the injuries covered by workers’ compensation.
https://ctmirror.org/2025/05/19/ct-legislature-jumps-to-avoids-235-hike-in-workers-comp-rates/