Counties Remain Committed to Firefighter Health and Safety

On February 26, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic Butchko testified before the Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 757 – Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program – Funding. 

This bill enhances funding for the Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program.

HB 757 increases the State’s per-barrel fee on oil transfers from 5 to 9 cents. Beginning in FY 2026, 4 cents of the collected fee will be directed to the Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program. The bill also increases the authorized annual budget allocation from $500,000 to $3,000,000 and permits up to 20% of these funds to be used by academic medical centers for data collection, analysis, and processing. These measures will significantly improve access to critical cancer screenings for firefighters across the state.

From MACo Testimony:

Counties fully support improving the health and safety of firefighters and all employees. Local governments have already taken substantial steps to provide extensive health coverage, including cancer screenings for firefighters. However, many jurisdictions with constrained budgets rely on grant programs to support these efforts. HB 757 offers another tool to help counties fulfill their commitment to firefighter health and safety without imposing additional unfunded mandates on local governments.

More on MACo’s Advocacy:

HB 757’s cross-file, SB 849, was also heard on February 26 in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Karrington Anderson testified in support of this bill.