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Bill

S 1755

Permits inclusion of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders within municipal eligible employee group for purposes of the small employer health benefits plan statutes.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Greenstein and 1 co-sponsor

New Jersey bill expands small employer health plans to include volunteer firefighters and emergency responders, improving insurance access for unpaid public safety workers but potentially raising municipal costs.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 1755

Legislative bill overview

S 1755 would expand New Jersey's small employer health benefits plan to include volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders as eligible employees. This change would allow municipalities to include these volunteers in group health insurance plans previously limited to municipal employees.

Why is this important

Volunteer firefighters and emergency responders often lack access to affordable health insurance despite performing critical public safety roles. Extending small employer health plan eligibility could improve recruitment and retention of volunteers while providing coverage security for individuals who typically receive little compensation for their dangerous work.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Including volunteers could increase municipal health insurance expenses, potentially requiring property tax increases or budget reallocation to cover additional premiums
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's reference to "other emergency responders" lacks specificity—unclear which roles qualify (EMTs, rescue squad members, etc.) and how municipalities determine eligibility
  • Fairness and precedent: Questions about whether extending benefits to unpaid volunteers sets expectations for other municipal volunteer positions or creates inequities among different volunteer emergency services

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

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