SB-230
Labor & Employment

Workers’ compensation: firefighters.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
1
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Expands workers' compensation coverage to include firefighters at commercial airports for job-related injuries.
  • Establishes automatic injury presumptions for cancer, PTSD, and infectious diseases in firefighters and officers.
  • Requires full medical, hospital, disability and death benefits for qualifying conditions.
  • Extends coverage for up to 60 months after service ends based on years worked.

Summary

Senator Laird's workers' compensation legislation extends critical injury presumptions to firefighters serving commercial airports, addressing a notable gap in California's existing protections for first responders. The bill amends seven sections of the Labor Code to include airport firefighters alongside their counterparts at military bases and NASA facilities.

Under the expanded provisions, airport firefighters who meet Federal Aviation Administration training standards would receive the same rebuttable presumptions that certain injuries and illnesses arose from their employment. These include cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, tuberculosis, blood-borne diseases, meningitis, and injuries from biochemical substances. The presumptions continue for a defined period after service ends, ranging from 60 to 120 months depending on the condition.

The legislation maintains existing requirements that affected personnel demonstrate exposure to carcinogens in cancer cases and complete minimum service periods for certain benefits. It preserves the appeals process allowing employers to present contrary evidence. The bill also retains current sunset provisions, including the 2029 expiration of post-traumatic stress disorder presumptions absent legislative renewal.

For implementation tracking, the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation must analyze post-traumatic stress disorder claims data through 2025 and report findings to legislative committees by 2027. This reporting requirement applies to both the expanded airport firefighter provisions and existing presumptions for public safety personnel.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Consent Calendar 2nd SB230 Laird et al
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
James GallagherR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike GipsonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 20 row(s) selected.
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Select All Legislators
Profile
James GallagherR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike GipsonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Marc BermanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Liz OrtegaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Stephanie NguyenD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Avelino ValenciaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Anamarie FariasD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
John HarabedianD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Michelle RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
David TangipaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

John Laird
John LairdD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Henry Stern
Henry SternD
California State Senator
Tim Grayson
Tim GraysonD
California State Senator
Marc Berman
Marc BermanD
California State Assembly Member
Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (4/1/2025)

Latest Voting History

April 1, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
390140PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Expands workers' compensation coverage to include firefighters at commercial airports for job-related injuries.
  • Establishes automatic injury presumptions for cancer, PTSD, and infectious diseases in firefighters and officers.
  • Requires full medical, hospital, disability and death benefits for qualifying conditions.
  • Extends coverage for up to 60 months after service ends based on years worked.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

John Laird
John LairdD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Henry Stern
Henry SternD
California State Senator
Tim Grayson
Tim GraysonD
California State Senator
Marc Berman
Marc BermanD
California State Assembly Member
Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Laird's workers' compensation legislation extends critical injury presumptions to firefighters serving commercial airports, addressing a notable gap in California's existing protections for first responders. The bill amends seven sections of the Labor Code to include airport firefighters alongside their counterparts at military bases and NASA facilities.

Under the expanded provisions, airport firefighters who meet Federal Aviation Administration training standards would receive the same rebuttable presumptions that certain injuries and illnesses arose from their employment. These include cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, tuberculosis, blood-borne diseases, meningitis, and injuries from biochemical substances. The presumptions continue for a defined period after service ends, ranging from 60 to 120 months depending on the condition.

The legislation maintains existing requirements that affected personnel demonstrate exposure to carcinogens in cancer cases and complete minimum service periods for certain benefits. It preserves the appeals process allowing employers to present contrary evidence. The bill also retains current sunset provisions, including the 2029 expiration of post-traumatic stress disorder presumptions absent legislative renewal.

For implementation tracking, the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation must analyze post-traumatic stress disorder claims data through 2025 and report findings to legislative committees by 2027. This reporting requirement applies to both the expanded airport firefighter provisions and existing presumptions for public safety personnel.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (4/1/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Consent Calendar 2nd SB230 Laird et al
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

April 1, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
390140PASS

Contacts

Profile
James GallagherR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike GipsonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 20 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
James GallagherR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike GipsonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Marc BermanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Liz OrtegaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Stephanie NguyenD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Avelino ValenciaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Anamarie FariasD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
John HarabedianD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Michelle RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
David TangipaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member