Tennessee Legislation Introduced in Honor of the Late Chance Carlton

NASHVILLE — Legislation introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly would honor the service of the late Chance Carlton of Huntingdon, who died in April 2025 while working as a lineman for the Carroll County Electric Department during severe flooding in the county.

Chance was survived by his wife, Samantha Carlton, two daughters, Landry Jean Carlton and Ellsie Jo Carlton, his parents, Tim and Robbie Carlton, a sister, Jessica (Kris) Hunley, all of Huntingdon.

The legislation, sponsored by Representative Brock Martin and State Senator John Stevens, would provide salary and benefits equal to $50,000 annually for five years.

The bill states:

Salaries and Benefits - As introduced, entitles the estate of an electrical lineman who was employed by or contracted with a local government to service electrical transmission and power distribution systems to an annual annuity of $50,000 for five years upon the death of the lineman in the line of duty. 

"Electrical lineman" means an individual who: (A) Installs, maintains, or repairs electrical transmission and power distribution systems; and (B) Is employed by a local government or an entity that contracts with a local government for the installation, maintenance, or repair of such systems; SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-51-210(b), is amended by adding the language "or electrical lineman" after "emergency responder" wherever it may appear. SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-51-210(d), is amended by deleting the period at the end of the subsection and substituting ", or being both an emergency responder and an electrical lineman." SECTION 4.  If approved, this act takes effect July 1, 2026.