Reminder: LEGISLATIVE DAY 2025 SCHEDULED APRIL 30th, 2025
Legislative Update for the 2025/2026 Session #4
The 2025/2026 Legislative Session in full swing and we are tracking several bills in the House and Senate.
* A Cancer Bill (Senate Bill 226) was introduced yesterday which would provide that any Cancer Covered Under The Firefighters’ Cancer Insurance Program under GS 58-86A, or the original Firefighters’ Health Benefit Pilot Program, would be covered under the LODD program under GS 143-166.2(6), adding to the original 6 cancers currently covered. This would greatly increase the number of cancers covered by LODD and provide expanded Line of Duty Death Benefits for firefighter families and dependents.
Previously, two of our priority bills were introduced in the House and Senate:
House Bill 37, Companion Bill to Senate Bill 86. These two Bills:
– Increases the Fire and Rescue Pension Benefit from $175 to $180 without an increase in Premiums.
– It also adds a fire service representative to the State EMS Advisory Board, giving the Fire Service input into EMS policies that affect our response operations and training.
House Bill 97, Companion Bill to Senate Bill 97: These Two Bills:
Change “Cancers of the Small Intestine” to “Cancers of the Stomach and Small Intestine”.
Why Companion Bills? If both pass in their respective Chambers, then they can be ratified without progressing over to the other Chamber. It also increases awareness to the issues in both Chambers.
We’ve gotten a great start to HB 37, Increasing Firefighter Benefits. It passed the Judiciary I Committee with a favorable report. It now goes to the Pension Committee in the House.
House Bill 98 was also introduced, which increases the use, sale, and allowable size of fireworks in NC. As we have historically, we oppose these increases in sale and use of fireworks by the public.
In addition, we are in support of several other Bills currently shown on the list below, including House Bill 22, which provides authorization for OSFM to conduct Fire Investigations. This was passed last year in the budget bill, but was vetoed by the Governor, and requires passage again this year.
We will continue to monitor bills as they are introduced.
Federal Legislation – We continue to Pursue Changes to IRS Regulations that could allow non-profit career firefighters in LGERS.
Legislative Day Legislative Day has been scheduled for April 30th, 2025. Please mark your calendars. More information will be coming out in the future as planning proceeds.
***LEGISLATIVE DAY 2025 SCHEDULED APRIL 30TH***
Please Mark Your Calendars and Plan to Attend!
Tim Bradley, Executive Director, NCSFA
Steven Roberson, 1st VP, NCSFA
Barry Overman, Incoming Executive Director, NCSFA
Listed below are the State bills introduced so far this session that we are currently tracking.
H 0022 | Fire Investigation Law Revisions | Jan 29, 2025 | Feb 03, 2025 – Re-ref to the Com on State and Local Government, if favorable, Insurance, if favorable, Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Charlie Miller |
Provides authority for the State Fire Marshal office to do Fire Investigations. This was approved in the budget bill last session but was vetoed.
H 0037 | Enhance Firefighter Benefits & Representation | Feb 03, 2025 | Feb 11, 2025 – Re-ref Com On Pensions and Retirement | Julia C. Howard |
Sister Bill to HB 86. Increases Pension from $175 to $180 and adds a member of the fire service to the State EMS Advisory Commission.
H 0047 | Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I | Feb 04, 2025 | Mar 03, 2025 – Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget | Dudley Greene |
H 0050 | LEO Special Separation Allowance Options | Feb 04, 2025 | Feb 05, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Judiciary 1, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Pensions and Retirement, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | A. Reece Pyrtle |
H 0052 | Protect Those Who Serve & Protect Act of 2025 | Feb 04, 2025 | Feb 27, 2025 – Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Kelly E. Hastings |
H 0061 | Assaults on First Responders | Feb 04, 2025 | Feb 06, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | A. Reece Pyrtle |
H 0097 | Support Firefighters Fighting Cancer | Feb 11, 2025 | Feb 17, 2025 – Re-ref to the Com on Pensions and Retirement, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Paul Scott |
Changes Cancers of the Small Intestines to “Cancers of the Stomach and Small Intestines”. Sister Bill to HB 97.
H 0098 | Patriotism Expression Act | Feb 11, 2025 | Mar 03, 2025 – Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 3, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Wyatt Gable |
Increases the use, sale, and size of fireworks in NC.
H 0137 | Gabe Torres Act | Feb 17, 2025 | Feb 18, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Pensions and Retirement, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Sarah Crawford |
Allows traveling to and from “duty” to be added to training to be covered by LODD
H 0141 | The Joe John Remembrance Act | Feb 17, 2025 | Feb 18, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Mike Clampitt |
H 0211 | The Kelsey Smith Act | Feb 25, 2025 | Feb 27, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | William Thomas Ward |
To an extent, allows law enforcement to utilize cell phone tracking information under certain emergencies.
H 0215 | Protect Charlotte Firefighters’ Ret. System | Feb 25, 2025 | Feb 27, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Pensions and Retirement, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Mike Clampitt |
Provides protection for Charlotte Firefighters retirement system against breach of data.
H 0219 | Counties/Franchise Ambulance Service | Feb 25, 2025 | Feb 27, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Mark Pless |
H 0236 | Remember 9/11 with Freedom Flag | Feb 26, 2025 | Feb 27, 2025 – Ref to the Com on State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Ben T. Moss |
Allows the flying of a freedom flag under the American and State flag on 9/11 for remembrance.
H 0256 | Allow Public Employee Collective Bargaining | Feb 27, 2025 | Mar 03, 2025 – Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Zack Hawkins |
S 0031 | The Wells Act | Jan 30, 2025 | Feb 11, 2025 – Re-ref to Regulatory Reform. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate | Jim Burgin |
Requires the review of all State Commissions and Committees not previously reviewed.
S 0062 | Nonprofit Fundraising Sales Tax Exemption | Feb 06, 2025 | Feb 10, 2025 – Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate | Jim Burgin |
S 0086 | Enhance Firefighter Benefits & Representation | Feb 12, 2025 | Feb 13, 2025 – Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate | Tim Moffitt |
Sister Bill to HB 86. Increases Pension from $175 to $180 and adds a member of the fire service to the State EMS Advisory Commission.
S 0097 | Support Firefighters Fighting Cancer | Feb 13, 2025 | Feb 17, 2025 – Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate | Tim Moffitt |
Changes Cancers of the Small Intestines to “Cancers of the Stomach and Small Intestines”. Sister Bill to HB 97.
S 0226 | Align Benefits for Firefighters with Cancer | Mar 03, 2025 | Mar 03, 2025 – Filed | Todd Johnson |
A Cancer Bill (Senate Bill 226) was introduced yesterday which would provide that any Cancer Covered Under The Firefighters’ Cancer Insurance Program under GS 58-86A, or the original Firefighters’ Health Benefit Pilot Program, would be covered under the LODD program under GS 143-166.2(6), adding to the original 6 cancers currently covered. This would greatly increase the number of cancers covered by LODD and provide expanded Line of Duty Death Benefits for firefighter families and dependents.
