With the 89^th regular session of the Texas Legislature completed, I am writing to report excellent news for Texas firefighters. Because of your investments in the TSAFF political program and in your own programs statewide, we continue to improve the laws that protect firefighters on the job and at home and in retirement. This session, we saw a state association-record 11 bills pass, along with two multi-million-dollar appropriations for historic firefighter cancer research and for support for border firefighters.

I am grateful for the work of our executive board, trustees, staff, and district legislative agents during this session – and for so many of our members who walked the halls of the state capitol complex before and during the session. Between all of you and TSAFF Government Affairs Director Glenn Deshields and Legislative Director Chase Fruge, we have a great team at the Capitol. And I’m not alone in that view. A legislator recently texted a firefighter leader with this message: “I tell you, there are many advocacy groups that could learn a lesson or 2 from the work and effort the firefighters have put into working for their members and passing bills this session. Just amazing! You guys are slaying your legislative agenda. Your members should be proud.”

Looking ahead, I am confident that our work this session can inspire even more political action in Austin and perhaps at home, but I encourage you to take a moment and be proud of the progress we’re making. Thank you for your hard work at Austin and at home.

John Riddle, TSAFF President

Here’s an overview of the bills we sponsored or helped pass (with links to Texas Legislature Online):

SB 1 – This is the appropriations bill that determines the State of Texas budget for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027. Working with Sen. Brandon Creighton, Rep. Jared Patterson, Rep. Stan Kitzman, and Rep. Armando Martinez, among others, we secured $5 million for firefighter cancer research at UT Health Science Center in Houston. The appropriation calls for UTHealth Houston “to conduct research on firefighter cancer and other firefighter related diseases, study existing research, develop mitigation policies, and aggregate information from previous studies.” Houston L-341 firefighters supported this important initiative as well. In another appropriation project, we secured $3 million for border fire departments.‍

HB 198 – Bumgarner / Parker – This bill gives a firefighter access to an annual cancer, heart, and infectious disease screening if his or her department is not already providing such testing. This is a particularly important step to early diagnosis of presumptive issues and developing steps to mitigate those diseases.

‍HB 331 – Patterson / J. Hinojosa – This is the final piece to HB 471 from the 2023 session and a continuation of SB 2551 from 2019. This bill ensures that heart attacks and strokes are covered in the Presumptive Act up to eight hours after duty and removes the distracting, nonsensical term “nonroutine.

‍HB 1593 – Campos / Middleton – This bill creates a group to study suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments throughout the state. This study would produce findings of best practices that can eventually become law and the necessary appropriations to fund it.

‍HB 1639 – Patterson / Alvarado – This is the bill to study gender-specific cancers in female firefighters. This is a combination study by the TCFP and Texas Department of State Health Services. This provides momentum toward a plan to add female cancers to the Presumptive Act. In combination with the UT Health Science Houston study referenced below, this is important progress.

‍HB 2488 – K. Bell / Alvarado – This bill allows the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) to cost-effectively and efficiently use video conferencing for certain contested hearings related to workers compensation claims.

‍HB 2513 – Tepper / Perry – This bill ensures that firefighters with ongoing military requirements get treated the same as other government employees. They only have 15 days to draw from, and HB 2513 ensures that a 24-hour or 48-hour shift only counts as one military leave day.‍

HB 2713 – Darby / Hancock – This bill ensures that all cities with 50,000 people or more that have or will adopt Civil Service (Chapter 143 LGC) can never have it repealed. This was in response to a fringe organization that was attempting to repeal it in San Marcos. Unfortunately, CLEAT (Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas) urged a population bracket, and we will need to address that issue next session.

SB 2786 – Creighton / Lambert– This bill exempts firefighters, EMTs, and peace officers, as military personnel are, from Texas Success Initiative test requirements that determines a potential higher education student’s ability to enter an institution.

SB 2965 – Creighton / C. Bell – This bill ensures that if a municipal fire department or an ESD takes over a territory, they will provide comparable service. The cities and ESDs worked out this bill.

HB 3732 – Martinez / Alvarado - This bill was developed to assist the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP). With new NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards, come new requirements for equipment. This gives the TCFP flexibility on enforcement if production delays result in noncompliance. The bill sunsets in September 2027. TSAFF leadership at the TCFP continues to make an important difference.

HB 4144 – Turner / Middleton – This bill applies to retirees from departments with 50 or more firefighters or police officers for 36 months after retirement. If a retiree is diagnosed with a cancer listed in the Presumptive Act or has a heart attack or stroke, they shall receive a payment of $100,000 or their final year’s salary, whatever is the least. (Retirees that receive healthcare from their former employer that is comparable to their final year employed, are not eligible.)