A Tennessee lawmaker is proposing a new bill calling to extend benefits to electrical linemen killed on the job.

House Bill 1464, introduced by State Representative Dennis Powers, would extend a state benefit currently available to certain first responders to include linemen.

The proposal would provide $250,000 in payments over five years to eligible families.

Under current Tennessee law, those benefits are currently limited to families of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and volunteer rescue squad members.

The bill, known as the “Chance Carlton Act,” is named after a 32-year-old Carroll County lineman who died in April 2025 while working to restore power after a severe storm.

If passed, the measure would apply to linemen employed by or contracted with local governments who are killed on the job. The law would take effect July 1 and apply to deaths occurring on or after that date.