2025 Legislative Agenda

For 90 years FASNY members across New York have gathered regionally to provide input on a proactive legislative program which represents the needs of their respective communities.

Each year, these grassroots proposals are brought forth to the statewide association, discussed and approved by voice vote to be compiled into FASNY’s legislative agenda (“Scorecard”) for the coming year. 

This document is our statement of priorities which we use in conversations with the Executive and the Legislature, and how we track each issue’s progress. FASNY also encourages members at the local level to use this document in district meetings with their local legislators to voice support for measures included.

SCORECARD ITEMS

1. ENSURE VFBL PARITY WITH WORKERS COMPENSATION — Bring the volunteer firefighters benefit law pay equal to workers comp/what career firefighters receive when injured in the line of duty.

Corresponding legislation: S.5436 (Skoufis)/A.5991 (McMahon)

History: In 2021 legislation was signed to bring temporary total disability benefits up to $650 for volunteers (S.1318-A Gaughran/A.1324-A Magnarelli). This legislation failed to advance out of local governments in both houses last year.

2. DESIGNATE EMS AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AND EXPAND THE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO EMS PERSONNEL AND SET STANDARDS FOR EMS — This legislation recognizes EMS as an essential service and establishes a special district to finance and operate general ambulance services. It also expands access to health insurance and retirement benefits for EMS providers.

Corresponding legislation: S.4020-C (Mayer)/A.3392-C (Otis)

History: This bill passed the Senate this past cycle. Ongoing work being done with Rescue EMS Coalition to get language moving in Assembly.

3. SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR HOME LIFE SAFETY PRODUCTS — Would provide a sales tax exemption on home life safety products purchased in New York state during Fire Safety Awareness Month (October).

Corresponding legislation: S.6759 (Thomas)/A.5951 (Wallace)

History: This language was included in the Assembly’s One-House Budget this year, but not included in the final budget. It will need a new Senate sponsor this session, as Kevin Thomas has left state service after his term completion. 

4. AMEND THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW IN RELATION TO THE “FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM ACT” — A 2017 study revealed that more firefighters and police officers died by suicide than in the line of duty. It also highlighted that first responders, including EMS personnel, face a higher risk of mental health issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This program will be anonymous and have no reporting requirements to protect individuals’ privacy.

Corresponding legislation: S.7079-A (Harckham)/A.7552-A (Burdick)

History: $2 million was allocated in the FY2025 NYS Budget for peer-to-peer support program grants. This bill passed the Senate in June of 2024 and was reported out of Mental Health in Assembly to Ways and Means this past cycle. 

5. INCOME TAX CREDIT INCREASE — Would increase to $800 and eliminate arbitrary prohibition on collection of both a local Real Property Tax exemption and the state income tax credit.

Corresponding legislation: S.7286-A (Martinez)/A.7524-A (Thiele)

History: This has been a longstanding issue since the introduction of the income tax credit in 2006. The measure passed the Senate in the most recent legislative cycle. Additionally, a proposal to increase the credit to $800 was included in the Senate one-house budget for FY24 and FY25, but it was ultimately excluded from the final budget. The FY24 proposal also included a removal of the prohibition on collecting both benefits. It will need a new Assembly sponsor this session, as Fred Thiele has left state service after his term completion.

6. RENEWAL OF HEART AND LUNG PRESUMPTIONS — Would make permanent or renew for another five years the Heart and Lung presumptions for volunteer firefighters, which expire in 2025. 

Corresponding Legislation: Heart: S.1180 (Harckham)/A.3033 (Zebrowski); Lung: S.1176 (Harckham)/A.5364 (Levenberg)

History: FASNY has consistently advocated for the permanent establishment of heart and lung presumptions for volunteer firefighters. In the interim, five-year extensions have been implemented to ensure ongoing coverage until a permanent solution is achieved. The heart presumption will need a new Assembly sponsor this session, as Ken Zebrowski has left state service after his term completion.

7. RENEWAL OF EMS COST RECOVERY — Would make permanent or extend the language which authorized volunteer fire-department run ambulances to recover costs for services rendered. 

    Corresponding Legislation: New proposal

    History: This measure expires April 9, 2026, but pursuing extension in the 2025 budget conversation is prudent as it allows departments confidence as they assemble their budgets for the next year.

    8. PHASE OUT FIREFIGHTER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WITH INTENTIONALLY ADDED PFAS — Amend the Environmental Conservation Law to prohibit the sale of personal protective equipment that contain these forever chemicals.

      Corresponding Legislation: New proposal

      History: This would align New York with the new NFPA 1970 standard released in fall of 2023 suggesting turnout gear containing PFAS be labeled as such and begin to be phased out. Connecticut and Massachusetts have recently signed laws to implement this removal at the state level. 

      9. DISTRICT ABILITY TO PAY LOCAL TRAINING STIPEND — The training stipend program included authorization for the governing board of a city, town, village or fire district (authority having jurisdiction) to authorize a fire company to administer a local fire training stipend program. The wording of the law and OFPC’s regulations have effectively limited payment ability to a fire company, not to the AHJ directly if they are the ones typically tasked with training responsibilities. 

        Corresponding Legislation: New Proposal

        History: The Association would seek an amendment to the law to allow this, which maintains the intent of the law. FASNY provided testimony calling attention to the need for this when the training stipend program was being established.

        PRIORITIES FOR CONSIDERATION

        Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Standards – We will continue to review and lend our support to worthy proposed legislation and regulations put forth by decisionmakers regarding products containing lithium-ion batteries. 

        NYS 2025-26 BUDGET MONITORING

        • Recovery of 54-G funding to support code enforcement efforts
          Corresponding legislation: S.2986 (Kavanagh)/A.4430 (Zebrowski) 
          This will need a new Assembly sponsor this session as Ken Zebrowski has left state service after his term completion.
        • Recovery of Public Safety Surcharge to support Next-Gen 911
          Corresponding legislation: S.4560 (Martinez)/A.6290 (Jean-Pierre)
          This will need a new Assembly sponsor this session, as Kim Jean-Pierre has left state service after her term completion.