Service line of duty death benefits provided for part-time, paid on-call, and volunteer firefighters.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Peggy Bennett and 22 co-sponsors

Extends service line-of-duty death benefits to part-time, paid-on-call, and volunteer Minnesota firefighters, ensuring families receive support for line-of-duty deaths.

Author added Curran, Youakim, and Witte

#death #fireandfirefighters #publicsafetydepartment

HF 2817 — Service line of duty death benefits for part-time, paid on-call, and volunteer firefighters

Overview

HF 2817 seeks to extend service line-of-duty death benefits to firefighters who are part-time, paid on-call, or volunteer. The bill is categorized under death benefits for fire and firefighting personnel and is directed at the public safety department.

Purpose and intent

The bill would provide or expand line-of-duty death benefits to a broader class of firefighters, specifically including part-time, paid on-call, and volunteer firefighters in addition to any existing full-time personnel covered by current LOD (line-of-duty) death benefit programs.

The aim is to ensure families of these firefighters receive appropriate benefits in the event of a line-of-duty death.

Key provisions (based on available information)

Extend eligibility for service line-of-duty death benefits to part-time, paid-on-call, and volunteer firefighters.

Establish or modify the framework governing when and how benefits are paid (exact benefit levels, eligibility criteria, and administrative details would be defined in the full text).

Align with existing death benefit structures within the public safety and firefighting framework in Minnesota.

Note: Specific benefit amounts, eligibility criteria, administrative processes, and funding details are not provided in the available summaries. The bill would implement these details in the full legislative text.

Who would be affected

Part-time, paid-on-call, and volunteer firefighters in Minnesota.

Fire departments and the public safety department that administers death benefits.

Families and beneficiaries of these firefighters who would receive eligibility for LOD benefits.

Legislative history and status

Introduced: March 26, 2025, in the Minnesota House.

First reading and referral: Referred to Public Safety Finance and Policy.

Legislative actions:

March 26, 2025: Introduction and first reading.
April 1, 2025: Author updated to include Rehrauer.

Sponsors:

Primary sponsor: Knudsen
Copponsors: Joy, Bennett, Zeleznikar, Rymer, Schwartz, Davis

Related bills: SF 3030 (companion bill in the Senate)

Next steps and timeline

The bill would proceed through committee hearings and potential amendments in Public Safety Finance and Policy.

If advanced, it would move to the floor for debate and a vote in the House, with a companion process in the Senate for SF 3030.

Final passage would trigger sending the measure to the governor for signature or veto, depending on legislative action.

Why this matters

Expanding line-of-duty death benefits to part-time, paid on-call, and volunteer firefighters addresses potential gaps in support for families who lose members serving in these roles, reinforcing protections for a broader segment of Minnesota’s firefighting workforce.