NASHVILLE, Tenn. —The Chance Carlton Act has been passed by both the Tennessee House and Senate and now will head to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
Bill 1464–also known as the Chance Carlton Act–is named for Chance Carlton of Carroll County, who died in the line of duty in April 2025 while he was working to restore power during severe storms.
The legislation provides linemen’s families with benefits in the event that a lineman dies in the line of duty.
Specifically, the bill authorizes the estate of an electrical lineman who installs, maintains, or repairs electrical transmission and power distribution systems and is employed by a local government or an entity that contracts with a local government for the installation, maintenance, and repair of such systems, who is killed in the line of duty, to receive an annuity in the amount of $250,000, paid over five years in $50,000 installments.
Carlton was employed by the Carroll County Electric Department. He was 32 years old and left behind a wife, Samantha, and two little girls, Landry and Ellsie. They were at the Tennessee State Capitol to show their support for the bill, along with other family members.
In a social media post, his wife said: