summary
Introduced
12/02/2025
12/02/2025
In Committee
02/12/2026
02/12/2026
Crossed Over
01/21/2026
01/21/2026
Passed
02/18/2026
02/18/2026
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Insurance coverage for public safety employees. Provides that a public safety employee who: (1) becomes disabled on or after January 1, 2020; (2) receives a Class 1 or a Class 2 impairment benefit; and (3) is eligible for group health insurance coverage for the public safety employee and the public safety employee's spouse or dependents; must pay no more than the amount that the public safety employee would have been required to pay if still serving as a current active public safety employee employed by the local unit public employer. Specifies that the public safety employee must file a written request for insurance coverage with the employer before June 1, 2026, or within 90 days after the public safety employee begins receiving disability benefits, whichever is later. Specifies that if a public safety agency closes, merges, or otherwise ceases to exist, the local unit public employer that caused the public safety agency to cease to exist, shall continue to provide certain insurance coverage. Provides that a surviving spouse or dependent of a public safety employee who dies in the line of duty must pay the same amount that the public safety employee would have been required to pay if still serving as a current active public safety employee employed by the local unit public employer for coverage selected by the surviving spouse or dependent under the group health insurance program.
AI Summary
This bill ensures that public safety employees who become disabled on or after January 1, 2020, and receive a Class 1 or Class 2 impairment benefit, will pay no more for their group health insurance, including coverage for their spouse or dependents, than they would have paid if they were still actively employed. A "public safety employee" is defined as a full-time firefighter, police officer, county police officer, or sheriff. To receive this benefit, the employee must request coverage before June 1, 2026, or within 90 days of starting disability benefits, whichever is later. The bill also mandates that if a public safety agency closes or merges, the employer responsible for that change must continue to provide this insurance coverage. Additionally, surviving spouses or dependents of public safety employees who die in the line of duty will pay the same amount for their selected group health insurance as the deceased employee would have paid if still working.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (10)
Jim Pressel (R)*,
Michael Crider (R),
Michelle Davis (R),
Lori Goss-Reaves (R),
Andrea Hunley (D),
Ethan Lawson (R),
Fady Qaddoura (D),
Lonnie Randolph (D),
Kyle Walker (R),
Shelli Yoder (D),
Last Action
House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 295: yeas 93, nays 0 (on 02/19/2026)
Official Document
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