On February 25, Associate Policy Director Karrington Anderson submitted a letter of information to the Finance Committee on SB 173 – Workers’ Compensation – Occupational Disease Presumptions – Hypertension.
This bill would significantly modify existing workers’ compensation benefits for volunteer and paid firefighters diagnosed with hypertension by expanding eligibility and reducing current requirements.
If enacted, SB 173 would likely result in a surge of claims from volunteer and professional firefighters seeking workers’ compensation benefits for hypertension. Due to the bill’s expanded eligibility criteria, most claims would lead to lifelong benefits. Undoubtedly, many cases that are unrelated to workplace effects will become fully, and permanently, compensable through workers’ compensation.
MACo has consistently opposed creating presumptions in workers’ compensation cases. Public employers are often required to compensate claims without clear evidence linking the condition to workplace exposure. Court rulings have repeatedly limited employers’ ability to challenge these claims, making such presumptions nearly impossible to rebut. SB 173 would further exacerbate this imbalance.
Under current law, volunteer and professional firefighters may qualify for workers’ compensation under a presumption of hypertension, provided the condition leads to death or disability. SB 173 would eliminate this death or disability requirement, allowing claims even when the individual remains capable of working—fundamentally reshaping the purpose of workers’ compensation.
SB 173’s cross-file, HB 217, was heard on February 26 in the House Economic Matters Committee. Karrington Anderson submitted a letter of information on this bill.
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