SB 230: Workers’ compensation: firefighters.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes a workers’ compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, to compensate an employee, as defined, for injuries sustained in the course of employment. Existing law creates a rebuttable presumption that specified injuries, such as cancer or post-traumatic stress disorder, developed or manifested in the course of employment of a specified member of law enforcement or a specified first responder arose out of and in the course of employment. Existing law makes these provisions applicable to certain active firefighting members, including active firefighting members of a fire department that serves a United States Department of Defense installation or active firefighting members of a fire department that serves a National Aeronautics and Space Administration installation.

This bill would, for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026, additionally apply these provisions to active firefighting members of a fire department that provides fire protection to a commercial airport, as specified.

Existing law creates a rebuttable presumption that other injuries, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, or meningitis, developed or manifested in the course of employment of a specified member of law enforcement or a specified first responder arose out of and in the course of employment. Existing law makes these provisions applicable to certain active firefighting members, including volunteers who are partly paid or fully paid by, among others, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or a county forestry or firefighting unit.

The bill would, for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026, also apply these provisions to active firefighting members of a fire department that provides fire protection to a commercial airport, National Aeronautics and Space Administration installation, or United States Department of Defense installation.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 5

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 6, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 404, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 6, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 9, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
4. September 4, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2512.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. September 3, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. September 3, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 2863.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. August 20, 2025Ordered to third reading.
8. August 20, 2025Read third time and amended.
9. July 14, 2025Ordered to third reading.
10. July 14, 2025From consent calendar on motion of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.
11. July 10, 2025Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
12. July 9, 2025From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (July 9).