Tennessee Governor Names Chief of New Workers’ Comp Division

Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has named Abbie Hudgens as the head of the state’s new Workers’ Compensation Division.

Hudgens, who had already been focusing on injured workers issues within the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, begins her six-year term on Monday.

The Workers’ Compensation Division was created as a part of a new law introduced by Haslam this year to remove injured workers claims from state trial courts and instead create a special panel appointed by the governor to hear claims and appeals.

Before being hired by the state, Hudgens was the risk and insurance manager for the cities of Nashville and Knoxville, and a consultant in private practice. She is also a past president of the national Public Risk Management Association.