An act relating to an annual allocation for firefighter cancer screening

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Micklus and 4 co-sponsors

Allocates up to $1.5 million annually from insurers via the Fire Safety Special Fund to fund basic firefighter training and NFPA 1580-compliant cancer screenings for Firefighter I

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care

Bill summary: H.662 (2025-2026) – Vermont

Purpose and intent

Reintroduces an annual allocation from the Fire Safety Special Fund to support firefighter-related services.

Specifically directs funding to:

Basic firefighter training (Level I–III entry-level courses)
Cancer screenings for individuals entering the Vermont Fire Academy’s Firefighter I program, aligned with NFPA 1580 occupational health standards.

Overall aim: ensure funding for both initial training and health screenings for incoming firefighters.

Key provisions and changes

Amends 32 V.S.A. § 8557 (Vermont Fire Service Training Council):

Establishes that up to $1,500,000 per year from the Fire Safety Special Fund will be paid to the Fire Safety Special Fund from insurance companies selling certain lines of coverage (fire, homeowners, farm, commercial, private passenger and commercial auto, inland marine) on property/persons in Vermont. Captive insurers are excluded.
The disbursement trigger is notified by the Vermont Commissioner of Financial Regulation, with assessments collected by the Vermont Department of Taxes.
The annual apportionment to insurers is determined by the Commissioner on or before July 1, based on each insurer’s gross direct written premiums in the second prior calendar year for property in Vermont.

Specific allocation requirements:

At least $100,000 must be allocated to Level I–III (basic) entry-level firefighter training courses.
At least $145,000 must be allocated to cancer screenings that meet NFPA 1580 standards for all individuals entering the Firefighter I certification program.

Who/what is affected

Insurance companies writing specified lines of insurance in Vermont (subject to the funding mechanism via the Fire Safety Special Fund).

The Vermont Fire Service Training Council (and its operations up to $1.5 million per year for training facilities and curriculum).

Individuals entering the Vermont Fire Academy’s Firefighter I program (benefiting from mandated cancer screenings).

Firefighters and prospective recruits who may access cancer screenings as part of the NFPA 1580-compliant program.

Procedural and timeline details

Funding mechanism: Annual allocation from the Fire Safety Special Fund, funded by insurer assessments collected by the Department of Taxes.

Assessment basis: Fair and reasonable apportionment as a percentage of gross direct written premiums for property in Vermont during the second prior calendar year.

Annual timing: The Commissioner of Financial Regulation determines charges, with collection and apportionment finalized by July 1 of each year.

Effective date: July 1, 2026.

Additional notes

Captive insurance companies are explicitly excluded from the funding mechanism.

The bill was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Health Care; primary sponsors include Rep. Christopher Taylor and co-sponsors Rep. Tony Micklus, Rep. Leland Morgan, Rep. Michael Morgan, and Rep. Brenda Steady.

Current status (as of the provided text): Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care on January 14, 2026. No further committee history included.