In what year did every state have enacted a workers' compensation law?

In what year did every state have enacted a workers' compensation law?

• A. 1930
• B. 1948
• C. 1960
• D. 1975

Answer: (B)

All states had enacted a workers' compensation law by 1948. This milestone shows when nationwide coverage was achieved, turning a patchwork of differing state programs into a unified framework. Across the early to mid-20th century, states adopted no-fault, employer-funded systems to ensure benefits for work-related injuries and reduce personal litigation. While adoption varied by state and took decades, by 1948 the last holdouts had passed their laws, giving every state a statutory basis for workers’ compensation and establishing a consistent platform for benefits, premiums, and claims handling.

All states had enacted a workers' compensation law by 1948. This milestone shows when nationwide coverage was achieved, turning a patchwork of differing state programs into a unified framework. Across the early to mid-20th century, states adopted no-fault, employer-funded systems to ensure benefits for work-related injuries and reduce personal litigation. While adoption varied by state and took decades, by 1948 the last holdouts had passed their laws, giving every state a statutory basis for workers’ compensation and establishing a consistent platform for benefits, premiums, and claims handling.