Sen. Barnes files bill in North Carolina Senate to expand firefighters’ death benefits

A new bill filed by State Sen. Lisa S. Barnes seeks to expand the classification of firefighter deaths from certain cancers as line-of-duty deaths and enhance related health benefits, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 226 on March 3 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Align Benefits for Firefighters with Cancer.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill seeks to amend the Public Safety Employees’ Death Benefits Act to categorize deaths of firefighters from specific cancers, including any cancer that qualified them for benefits under the Firefighters’ Cancer Insurance Program or Health Benefits Pilot Program, as “killed in the line of duty.” Additionally, the Firefighters’ Health Benefits Pilot Program is recognized as the Firefighters’ Cancer Insurance Program, providing supplemental health benefits to diagnosed firefighters, administered by the State Fire Marshal without procuring commercial insurance. The bill appropriates $2 million annually from the General Fund for these benefits for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium. This act is effective July 1, 2025, for deaths occurring on or after that date.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Todd Johnson proposed the most bills (16) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Barnes graduated from Peace College with an AA and again in 1988 from North Carolina State University with a BA.

Barnes, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2021 to represent the state’s 11th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Rick Horner.