Relating to funding for services in domestic relations cases; and declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session

SB 97 adds gastric cancer to the line-of-duty cancer presumption for firefighter deaths, easing death-benefit eligibility for survivors; effective July 1, 2025.

Effective date, May 28, 2025.

Main purpose

SB 97 adds stomach (gastric) cancer to the statutory list of cancers that are presumed to be “killed in the line of duty” when the death of a firefighter is a direct and proximate result of an occupationally related cancer. The change extends the presumptive line‑of‑duty death treatment under the Public Safety Employees’ Death Benefits Act to deaths from stomach cancer that are linked to firefighting service.

Key provisions

Amends G.S. 143‑166.2(6)(e) to add:

“Cancer of the stomach, also known as gastric cancer” to the enumerated cancers for which a firefighter’s death is presumed to be a line‑of‑duty death when occupationally related to firefighting.

Appropriation:

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of State Treasurer in recurring funds for each year of the 2025–2027 fiscal biennium to pay benefits under the Public Safety Employees’ Death Benefits Act related to implementation of the bill.

Effective date / application:

Effective July 1, 2025.
Applies to qualifying deaths occurring on or after that date.

Who is affected

Primary: career and volunteer firefighters (and their survivors) whose death results from stomach cancer that is occupationally related to firefighting.

Secondary: beneficiaries and dependents who claim death benefits under the Public Safety Employees’ Death Benefits Act, the Department of State Treasurer (administration/disbursement of benefits), and the State budget/General Fund.

Practical effect & impact

Legal/claims effect: By creating a statutory presumption that certain cancers (now including stomach cancer) are occupationally related, SB 97 lowers the evidentiary burden for survivors seeking line‑of‑duty death benefits; claimants will not have to prove causation as rigorously where the presumption applies.

Fiscal effect: The bill includes a specified appropriation of $500,000/year (recurring) for FY2025–26 and FY2026–27 to cover benefits tied to implementation. Actual long‑term fiscal exposure could exceed the appropriation if additional claims materialize beyond the covered biennium; the appropriation is intended to fund benefits payable because of the change.

Administrative: The Department of State Treasurer administers benefits payments; agencies may need to update claim guidance and internal processes to reflect the new presumption and appropriation.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced: January 23, 2025 (as provided in bill metadata).

Became effective: July 1, 2025 (statutory effective date in the bill text).

Application: applies to qualifying deaths on or after July 1, 2025.

If you want, I can:
- Draft a short explainer for firefighters’ families on how to use the new presumption when filing a claim; or
- Prepare a brief fiscal note estimating possible additional annual benefit costs under several claim‑rate scenarios.

Bill