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SB 181 · 2025 · Senate · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Workers' comp presumption for firefighters

AI-generated

relative to workers' compensation for firefighters with cancer.

Extends the presumption that heart or lung disease in firefighters is occupationally related absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary and requires payment of related workers' compensation benefits within a specified time period.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · November 3, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill extends the presumption that heart or lung disease is occupationally related for firefighters absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, and requires payment of workers' compensation benefits within a specified period of time in such cases.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 281-A:2, XI and XIII, 16 and 27, there shall exist a prima facie presumption that heart or lung disease in a regular, call, volunteer or retired member of a fire department is occupationally related.”
RSA 281-A:17
“A call or volunteer firefighter shall have the benefit of this prima facie presumption only if there is on record reasonable medical evidence that such firefighter was free of such disease at the beginning of his or her employment.”
RSA 281-A:17
“It shall be the duty of the employer of a call or volunteer firefighter to provide that reasonable medical evidence.”
RSA 281-A:17
“If the employer fails to do so, the call or volunteer firefighter shall have the benefit of the prima facie presumption regardless of the absence of the reasonable medical evidence.”
RSA 281-A:17

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDPrimeMinority Leader
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader
  • Rep. Laura TelerskiDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Rep. Matthew WilhelmDDemocratic Caucus Chair
  • Rep. Alexis SimpsonDDemocratic Leader

Also: Sen. Tara ReardonD, Rep. Nicholas BridleR, Rep. Stephen PearsonR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 5, 2025Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration1:18:09–1:21:573m 48slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0506s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0506s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0506s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateSenate floor2:21:29–2:23:572m 28slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Gray Moved Laid on Table — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 3
  2. Feb 5, 2025SenHearing: 02/05/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:45 am; SC 8
  3. Mar 6, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0506s, 03/06/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 11
  4. Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0506s, AA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  5. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0506s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  6. Mar 20, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/20/2025, Vote 6-0; SC 13
  7. Mar 20, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  8. Mar 20, 2025SenSen. Gray Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  9. Mar 20, 2025SenPending Motion OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  10. Oct 31, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, Senate Rule 3-23, 10/31/2025; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.