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SB 1239 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE FALLEN HERO FUND AND PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE TO SURVIVORS OF FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

SB 1239 creates the Fallen Hero Fund to provide ongoing health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and dependents of first responders (like police, firefighters, and EMTs) who die while performing their duties. The bill establishes a permanent program where the fund covers the full cost of health insurance premiums for these survivors. This law, now Public Act 25-61 after being signed by the governor on June 10, 2025, directly affects the families of fallen first responders by ensuring they maintain health coverage without out-of-pocket costs.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes permanent fund covering full health insurance premiums for survivors of fallen first responders, expanding coverage access to a specific vulnerable group.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Signed Jun 10, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → PS Joint Favorable Substitute · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renamed from the Fallen Officer and Firefighter Fund to the Fallen Hero Fund and expanded eligibility to include all first responders (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians) rather than just police officers and firefighters. This change broadens the protection and benefits available to a wider range of public safety personnel who die in the line of duty.
Scope change
Expanded from covering only police officers and firefighters to include all first responders (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians).
SCOPE

The bill title and fund name were changed from Fallen Officer and Firefighter Fund to Fallen Hero Fund to reflect the expanded scope.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for benefits was expanded from police officers and firefighters only to include all first responders, which now includes paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'emergency medical technician' and 'paramedic' to clarify which roles are covered under the expanded first responder category.

The definition of 'firefighter' was updated to be part of the broader 'first responder' definition rather than standing alone.

REQUIREMENT

References throughout the bill were updated to use 'first responder' instead of 'police officer or firefighter' to reflect the expanded eligibility.

Floor votes · Senate May 15, 2025 · House May 31, 2025

How they voted

36–0
Passed
Total votes 36
May 15, 2025
D Democratic25
25 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican11
11 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
5
Committee
3
Jun 10, 2025
Signed into law
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
upper
May 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE PASSED
lower
May 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
SENATE PASSED
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Safety and Security
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.