Rep. Howard files bill in North Carolina House to expand death benefits for firefighters

A new bill filed by State Rep. Julia C. Howard in the North Carolina House seeks to broaden the definition of line-of-duty deaths for firefighters to include stomach cancer, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 97 on Feb. 11 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Support Firefighters Fighting Cancer.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill expands the definition of “killed in the line of duty” under the Public Safety Employees’ Death Benefits Act to include deaths resulting from stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, for firefighters. This addition acknowledges stomach cancer as occupationally related to firefighting, similar to other specified cancers such as mesothelioma and testicular cancer. The bill appropriates $500,000 in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of State Treasurer for each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to support the payment of benefits related to this change. The act is set to become effective on July 1, 2025, and it applies to qualifying deaths occurring on or after that date.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Steve Tyson proposed the most bills (eight) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Howard graduated from Salem College in 2003 with a BA.

Howard, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 77th House district, replacing previous state representative Harry Warren.