Bill
Bill > A641
NJ A641
NJ A641"Assistance to Firefighters' Families Act"; doubles pension amounts for beneficiaries of certain deceased volunteer emergency service providers; provides for burial expenses and adjusts life insurance coverage for volunteer firefighters; permits fire code inspection surcharge.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill, designated as the "Assistance to Firefighters' Families Act," would double the survivor pension amounts that the State is required to pay to beneficiaries of volunteer firefighters, first aid workers, rescue squad workers, and emergency medical technicians who die as the result of injuries sustained while performing their duties. Additionally, this bill would require municipalities served by volunteer fire companies to pay reasonable funeral and burial expenses of an assured firefighter to the extent those costs are not covered by the New Jersey State Firemen's Association or a firemen's relief association. The bill also increases from $25,000 to $250,000 the maximum group life insurance policy coverage that a municipality may undertake or pay the premium for. Municipalities may raise funds to provide these benefits to volunteer firefighters by establishing a surcharge for each fire code inspection in the municipality.
AI Summary
This bill, known as the "Assistance to Firefighters' Families Act," aims to provide enhanced support for the families of volunteer emergency service providers. It doubles the survivor pension amounts paid by the state to beneficiaries of volunteer firefighters, first aid workers, rescue squad workers, and emergency medical technicians who die in the line of duty. Additionally, municipalities will be required to cover reasonable funeral and burial expenses for deceased volunteer firefighters, up to the amount not covered by existing associations like the New Jersey State Firemen's Association. The bill also significantly increases the maximum group life insurance coverage a municipality can provide for volunteer firefighters from $25,000 to $250,000. To fund these increased benefits, municipalities are permitted to implement a surcharge on fire code inspections, with the collected funds to be used to cover the costs of these new provisions.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A641 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A1000/641_I1.HTM |
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