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SD 2857

An Act providing accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of a former firefighter of the City of Boston

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Nick Collins and 1 co-sponsor

Bill extends accidental death benefits to a Boston firefighter's surviving spouse, setting precedent for responder family compensation policy.

Referred to the committee on Public Service
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 2857

Legislative bill overview

SD 2857 proposes to extend accidental death benefits to the surviving spouse of a deceased former Boston firefighter. The bill appears to address a specific case or gap where a former firefighter's spouse may not have received benefits they believe they are entitled to following an accidental death. This would likely involve directing the city or state to provide compensation to the surviving family member.

Why is this important

Accidental death benefits for emergency responders and their families serve as critical financial protection for households that lose income-earners in dangerous professions. This bill directly impacts individual financial security and sets precedent for how Massachusetts treats surviving spouses of public safety personnel. The measure also reflects ongoing questions about which deaths qualify for benefits and how retroactively these policies can be applied.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and precedent: Expanding benefits to former firefighters (rather than only active-duty personnel) could create expectations for similar coverage across other city employee categories, with unclear budgetary implications
  • Retroactivity concerns: If this targets a specific past case, it raises questions about fairness to other families denied similar benefits and whether individual relief bills should be handled through legislation versus administrative/legal channels
  • Definition of "accidental": Ambiguity around what qualifies as accidental versus non-qualifying deaths could lead to disputes and inconsistent application

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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