Public Employees - As introduced, requires, instead of authorizes, the state and local governments to provide fully paid health insurance coverage to the immediate family members of state and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2020; removes the two-year limitation on the state or local government's full payment of such coverage; adds that family members of officers who suffer catastrophic injuries on or after January 1, 2020, also qualify for such coverage; requires the state to reimburse local governments that provide such coverage. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Scarbrough

Tennessee bill mandates permanent, fully-paid health insurance for families of slain or catastrophically injured officers, removing time limits and requiring state reimbursement to local governments.

Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

#publicemployees

Legislative bill overview

HB 2405 converts health insurance coverage for families of fallen or catastrophically injured law enforcement officers from optional to mandatory for Tennessee state and local governments. The bill removes the two-year time limit on coverage and requires the state to reimburse local governments for these expenses, applying retroactively to incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2020.

Why this is important

This legislation directly affects police officers' families during their most vulnerable moments—either after losing a breadwinner or when managing long-term care for a catastrophically injured officer. The mandate and state reimbursement mechanism shift financial responsibility upward while attempting to ensure consistent, indefinite support across all jurisdictions regardless of local budget constraints.

Potential points of contention

Fiscal impact and unfunded mandates: Local governments may face significant, open-ended costs for retiree health insurance coverage. While the bill includes state reimbursement, disputes could arise over reimbursement amounts, methodology, and whether state funds adequately cover actual expenses.

Retroactive application: Applying coverage to incidents dating back to January 1, 2020 creates immediate financial obligations for both state and local governments that weren't budgeted, potentially affecting other public services or requiring supplemental appropriations.

Definition of "catastrophic injury": The bill lacks a clear definition of what qualifies as a catastrophic injury, which could lead to inconsistent application, litigation, and disputes about coverage eligibility.

Scope of "immediate family": The bill's definition of eligible family members isn't specified in this summary, raising questions about which relatives qualify and potential inequities in coverage.