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Legislative
A Message from the TSAFF President John Riddle
Since 2017, TSAFF members have continued to invest in our political program – on the ground in their communities and at the state capitol. Political action and our legislative program are vital in our support of Texas professional firefighters.
Working with elected officials – more than 100 of which we have helped elect – and their staffs, we have solid momentum at the state capitol. During the past four legislative sessions, Texas firefighters have helped pass 17 pieces of fire service-related legislation. (For comparison, during the previous seven sessions, we passed only two bills.)
In 2019, we initiated comprehensive reform of the workers compensation system, and the passage of SB 2551 led the way. This had been a TSAFF goal for decades. Equally important have been our efforts to defeat dozens of anti-public safety proposals. Notably, we are the labor organization that convinced legislators to kill anti-dues deduction legislation in recent sessions, helping firefighters, but also police officers, teachers and other public servants.
I’m proud of our legislative team, led by Government Affairs Director Glenn Deshields and Legislative Director Chase Fruge, and I’m proud of our members and District Legislative Agents (DLAs) who take time during legislative session and beyond to represent us.
Through our political training academy and service training programs, we also are providing essential political and legislative training to Texas firefighter leaders so they can better advocate for and represent all of us.
We always have more work to do, of course, but we’re committed to maintaining a strong voice on public safety issues in Austin. The next regular legislative session, the 89th, begins on January 14, 2025.
For more information, please take a look at the summaries below which were provided to our members after recent sessions.
John Riddle
TSAFF President
Message from TSAFF President John Riddle
John Riddle
TSAFF President
Since 2017, TSAFF members have continued to invest in our political program – on the ground in their communities and at the state capitol. Political action and our legislative program are vital in our support of Texas professional firefighters.
Working with elected officials – more than 100 of which we have helped elect – and their staffs, we have solid momentum at the state capitol. During the past four legislative sessions, Texas firefighters have helped pass 17 pieces of fire service-related legislation. (For comparison, during the previous seven sessions, we passed only two bills.)
In 2019, we initiated comprehensive reform of the workers compensation system, and the passage of SB 2551 led the way. This had been a TSAFF goal for decades. Equally important have been our efforts to defeat dozens of anti-public safety proposals. Notably, we are the labor organization that convinced legislators to kill anti-dues deduction legislation in recent sessions, helping firefighters, but also police officers, teachers and other public servants.
I’m proud of our legislative team, led by Government Affairs Director Glenn Deshields and Legislative Director Chase Fruge, and I’m proud of our members and District Legislative Agents (DLAs) who take time during legislative session and beyond to represent us.
Through our political training academy and service training programs, we also are providing essential political and legislative training to Texas firefighter leaders so they can better advocate for and represent all of us.
We always have more work to do, of course, but we’re committed to maintaining a strong voice on public safety issues in Austin. The next regular legislative session, the 89th, begins on January 14, 2025.
For more information, please take a look at the summaries below which were provided to our members after recent sessions.
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Recent Sessions
HB 331 (Patterson) / SB 1932 (C. Hinojosa)
Firefighter Presumption Bill
Strengthens protections for heart attacks, stroke, and cancer.
Firefighter Bill of Rights
This bill would ensure a firefighter has certain basic rights in disciplinary investigations.
Binding Arbitration
This bill would keep disputes over firefighter contracts out of court by mandating a system of arbitration that binds both parties.
Female Firefighter Cancer Study
This bill studies cancer amongst women in the fire service.
HB 1593 (Campos) / SB 1131 (Middleton)
Suicide Prevention / Peer Support Study
These bills would create a study group to help model future legislation and offer fire departments advice to prevent first responder suicides and treat common mental health issues.
HB 2713 (Darby) / SB 1331 (Hancock)
Civil Service Repeal
These bills would prevent extremist groups from calling endless voter referendums to strip first responders of basic employment rights that their community has guaranteed them.
HB 2009 (Hernandez) / HB 198 (Bumgarner) / SB 1545 (A. Hinojosa)
Medical Evaluations for Firefighters
These bills would guarantee that firefighters would be provided an opportunity to receive a medical evaluation for diseases that are often caused by their duty.
Increasing Educational Options for First Responders
Exempting first responders for taking the Texas Success Initiative at centers of higher education.
Firefighters Military Leave
This bill would modify military leave to better mesh with the schedules that firefighters work and prevent them from using vacation and sick leave to meet their requirements.
Critical Illness Supplemental Insurance
This bill would ensure that firefighters that have retired are able to get treatment benefits for illnesses that were caused by their duty.
Emergency Service District (ESD) Employment Agreements
This bill would allow firefighters and an ESD the ability to enter into an employment contract related to benefits and conditions of duty.
HB 4090 (Patterson) / HJR 176 (Patterson)
First Responder Property Tax Exemption
This bill and joint resolution would create an exemption from property taxation for disabled first responders and their surviving spouses.
Recent Sessions
Legislative Sessions
Latest Issues Book
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