Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Chance Carlton Act

NASHVILLE (April 22) — With only days left in the 114th General Assembly’s legislative session, Tennessee lawmakers in the House and Senate passed the Chance Carlton Act, a bill that provides linemen’s families with benefits in the event that a lineman dies in the line of duty.

Named after a Carroll County lineman who died in April 2025 while working to restore power following a severe storm, HB1464/SB1907 (the Chance Carlton Act) groups electrical linemen with law enforcement officers, firefighters and volunteer rescue squad members in the event of a work-related death. The bill was introduced by Rep. Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro) and Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) in December and January, respectively.

Under this act, a lineman’s family can receive an annual annuity of $50,000 for five years to help ease financial burdens following their loved one’s death.

The act defines an “electrical lineman” as an individual who A) installs, maintains or repairs electrical transmission and power distribution systems; and B) is employed by a municipality, county, utility district or other local governmental entity.

Chance Carlton was employed by the Carroll County Electric Department. He was 32 years old at the time of his death, leaving behind a wife and two young daughters.

Chance Carlton’s wife, Samantha, and children, Landry and Ellsie, were at the Tennessee State Capitol on April 22 to show their support for the bill. They were joined by Carlton’s sister, Jessica Hunley; mother-in-law, Shannon Bedocs; and best friend, Kyle East.

The bill passed in the House on April 21 and in the Senate on April 22 with bipartisan support and no opposition.

Now, the bill needs to be enrolled before being signed by House and Senate Speakers. The Speakers will then transmit the bill to Gov. Bill Lee for his action.

With Gov. Lee’s approval, this act will take effect July 1, 2026, and will apply to work-related deaths occurring on or after that date.

Samantha Carlton appeared before the House of Representatives’s State and Local Committee on March 11 to speak about the act.

“Chance was not just a lineman,” she said. “He was the husband who never left without saying I love you, and when storms rolled in and most families ran inside to safety, Chance answered his call, left his family and walked straight into danger. He did it without complaint because he believed that restoring power meant restoring comfort, safety and life to his community… Chance died serving the people of Tennessee last April, yet under current law, linemen are not recognized as first responders,” she said.

She shared that Tennessee has lost five linemen in the past eight years and pointed out the everyday dangers linemen face.

“Linemen face high voltage, [un]predictable weather and life-threatening conditions every single day in their trucks to maintain the infrastructure of our state,” she said. “They are sacrificing their safety every time they go to work, often clearing scenes of live hot wire to allow law enforcement, EMS and fire to respond safely… They should be recognized as first responders every day and not just when a state of emergency is declared and they are needed.”