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S 850

Honor Our First Responders Act

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jason Elliott and 6 co-sponsors

Provides three years of state-funded health coverage for surviving spouses and dependents of first responders killed in the line of duty, with optional continuation after.

Referred to Committee on Finance
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Bill Summary · S 850

Summary of Bill S 850 (2025-2026) — Honor Our First Responders Act (South Carolina)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a new program to provide state-funded health insurance coverage for the surviving spouses and dependent children of first responders who are killed in the line of duty.
  • The act defines who qualifies as a first responder and outlines the eligibility, administration, funding, and continuation of coverage.

Key provisions and changes

Definitions (Section 1-11-735(A))

  • Establishes clear definitions for:
    • Law enforcement officer
    • Firefighter
    • Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel
    • First responder (any of the above, regardless of full-time, part-time, volunteer, or reserve status)
    • Line-of-duty death (death directly related to performing official duties, with certain exclusions for deaths from criminal activity or gross misconduct)

Health-insurance coverage for survivors (Section 1-11-735(B)-(E))

  • Eligible individuals: Surviving spouse and dependent children of a first responder who suffers a line-of-duty death.
  • Coverage duration: Three years from the date of the first responder’s death.
  • Funding responsibility: The State shall pay full premium costs; no charges to surviving spouse, dependent children, employing agency, or political subdivision.
  • Coverage terms:
    • Continues under the same health-insurance plan and terms as in effect at the time of death.
    • Benefits must be equivalent in scope to coverage for active State Health Plan members and their dependents.
    • No lapse, waiting period, or involuntary termination during the three-year period.

Administration and funding (Section 1-11-735(F)-(G))

  • Administration: Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) administers the program and enrolls eligible survivors upon verifying line-of-duty death.
  • Funding: Annual General Assembly appropriation to PEBA sufficient to cover all costs of the program.

Optional continuation after three years (Section 1-11-735(H))

  • Post-three-year option: Surviving spouses who were covered can elect to continue health-insurance coverage under the State Health Plan.
  • Continuation details:
    • Premiums: Survivor pays the full premium at the group rate (no state subsidy).
    • No evidence of insurability required for continuation.
    • Coverage must be substantially equivalent to active-plan coverage.
    • Administration: PEBA manages continuation consistent with existing continuation or retiree options.
    • Cost: Includes all applicable premiums plus any permitted administrative fees.

Effective date

  • Takes effect upon the Governor’s approval.

Who is affected

  • Surviving spouses and dependent children of first responders (law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel) who die in the line of duty.
  • State agencies employing first responders are indirectly affected through the funding and coverage requirements.
  • Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) would administer and manage enrollment and continuation.

Procedural/Timeline notes

  • Introduced and read first time on January 28, 2026.
  • Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance (common legislative path for budgetary and benefits-related bills).
  • No explicit sunset or renegotiation dates; continuation option is limited to mortality-related survivors beyond the initial three-year period.

Practical impact

  • Provides immediate, state-funded health coverage for three years for eligible survivors, alleviating premium costs during a period of bereavement.
  • Ensures parity in benefits with active state employees, avoiding gaps in essential health care coverage.
  • Enables a pathway to continue coverage after three years at the survivor’s expense, with protections against medical underwriting for continuation.

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

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