H 5631 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer

This bill mandates that health care plans for firefighters in Massachusetts cover specific cancer screenings without charging co-payments or deductibles. It requires these screenings to begin three years after a firefighter starts their job and to be repeated every three years while they are employed. The law specifies that the exams must check for various types of cancer, including lung, colon, and prostate cancer, and applies to firefighters working for the state, cities, towns, and certain military bases. While the bill generally prohibits out-of-pocket costs, it allows for cost-sharing only if federal tax laws require it to maintain the plan's tax-exempt status.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2026
Committee Review
Aug 2026
House Passage
Jul 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jul 31, 2026 Last action Aug 4, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Aug 4, 2026
Committee
Read; and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
upper
Jul 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed to be engrossed - 157 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 256 )
lower
Jul 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from the committee on House Ways and Means
lower
0 primary · 68 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.