2027 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 worker’s compensation/what career firefighters receive when injured in the line of duty.
Corresponding legislation: S.5432 (Skoufis) / A.6410 (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 bill was reported from Local Government Committee to the Finance Committee in the Senate for the first time this cycle.
2. AMEND THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW IN RELATION TO THE “FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM ACT” – A 2017 study found that more firefighters and police officers died by suicide than in the line of duty. The study further found that these first responders including EMS are at an increased risk for mental illnesses such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The legislation establishes a statewide grant program administered by the Office of Mental Health (OMH) to fund peer-to-peer mental health programs in every county. It also includes standards, accountability measures and anonymity provisions.
Corresponding legislation: S.5407-A (Harckham) / A.7285-A (Burdick)
History: This bill has stalled in Assembly referenced committee and as such there have been modifications discussed with sponsors and stakeholders ahead of 2027.
3. ESTABLISH A PRESUMPTION FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE UNDER THE VFBL – Following a passed physical entrance exam, any subsequent condition or impairment of health caused by Parkinson’s disease resulting in total or partial disability or death to a volunteer firefighter would be presumed to be line of duty related.
Corresponding legislation: S.8376 (Bynoe) / A.9655 (Solages)
History: This bill was reported out of both Assembly and Senate Local Government Committees this session unanimously and then subsequently stalled in Assembly Ways & Means and Senate Finance.
4. ENABLE FIRE DISTRICT TO PAY LOCAL TRAINING STIPEND – Under current law, the local training stipend enables fire companies only to pay. This would allow towns, villages, fire districts to pay this stipend as well.
History: While not a fiscal to the state, would likely still be discussed in context of budget process as it can impact municipal coffers and may cause state to adjust their program.
5. CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT – Would provide up to $5,000 annual state income tax credit to eligible volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel to offset childcare/daycare-related expenses.
History: New proposal
6. RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT TO FIRST RESPONDERS – Establishes specific degrees of reckless endangerment dedicated to protecting emergency personnel from dangerous actions by property owners who make illegal modifications which directly result in the injury or death of a first responder.
Corresponding legislation: S.6203 (Skoufis) / A.8592 (Dinowitz)
History: First introduced in 2014. Born out of tragedies like a 2005 fire in the Bronx (“Black Sunday”), and a fire in Haverstraw in 2011 where a firefighter almost lost his life in an illegally converted rooming house.
7. NEW YORK FIREFIGHTER CANCER SCREENING PILOT PROGRAM – A state-funded, voluntary two-year pilot program providing $15 million to establish a program that would screen paid and volunteer firefighters.
History: This is a new proposal based on a successful model in New Hampshire for paid firefighters.
8. EXPAND ENHANCED CANCER DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR ELIGIBLE EXTERIOR FIREFIGHTERS – GML 205-CC does not legally compel fire districts, departments or companies to purchase cancer coverage specifically for exterior-only volunteer firefighters. Participating insurance carriers allow optional/class-based coverage to voluntarily include exterior firefighters on their census by categorizing them into separate tiers.
History: New proposal
9. REMOVE ARBITRARY PROHIBITION ON COLLECTING STATE INCOME TAX CREDIT AND ANY LOCAL REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
Corresponding legislation: S.6019 (Baskin) / A.288 (Barrett)
History: The FY24 Senate one house budget included a removal of the prohibition on collecting both benefits along with proposed income tax credit increase. After this was done, we amended the tax credit increase standalone legislation to include this provision as well. It was removed from the final deal on the tax credit increase due to concerns from DOB regarding “double dipping” as well as its further fiscal impact on the state.
10. AUTHORIZE OPTIONAL FINANCIAL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS – This bill would authorize local governments, fire districts and certain fire companies to provide nominal pay-per-call and paid-on-call stipends to volunteers.
Corresponding legislation: S.10597 (Martinez) / A.10630-A (Solages)
History: New legislation in 2026. Current bill language creates the Volunteer Fire Service Nominal Compensation Assistance Fund in the custody of the State Comptroller to help eligible fire entities support such programs.
CONTINUING PRIORITIES FOR CONSIDERATION
Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Standards – We support many individually sponsored bills on the subject and they should all be reviewed, in concert with decisionmakers, to develop a unified comprehensive action that is inclusive of the Governor’s program, the Assembly and Senate, DHSES/OFPC, OSHA, NFPA, Codes Council, Manufacturers, Builders, and NYC guidelines regarding e-bikes, scooters and lithium-ion batteries. Review legislative bills specific to safety issues regarding shut-offs to protect residents and first responders