North Carolina 2025 Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 42 R · 28 D · 1 I cosponsors

HB 37 — Enhance Firefighter Benefits and Representation.

Last action — Regular Message Sent To Senate

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 03, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 72 sponsors

    3 primary, 69 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (42 R · 28 D · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

267 added · 266 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to House Bill 37 include updates that clarify the pension benefits for members of fire or rescue squads who become disabled. Specifically, the bill now states that members who have at least 10 years of service and are disabled will not need to make a monthly contribution of $15 after turning 55, ensuring that they receive their pension benefits without financial burden. This change is significant because it helps support those who have served their communities, making it easier for them to access financial assistance during challenging times.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 37 Short Title:
37 Feb 3, 2025 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH40038-MRp-20 Short Title:
Representative Howard.
Representatives Howard, N.
Jackson, Huneycutt, and Scott (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ENHANCE BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATION FOR NORTH CAROLINA FIREFIGHTERS AND RESCUE SQUAD WORKERS.
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House February 4, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ENHANCE BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATION FOR NORTH CAROLINA FIREFIGHTERS AND RESCUE SQUAD WORKERS.
58-86-30, this Article, andwhohas attainedtheage of55yearsis entitled to be paid a monthly pension from this fund.
58-86-30, this Article,andwhohas attainedtheage of55 yearsis entitled to be paid a monthly pension from this fund.
(c) A member who is totally and permanently disabled while in the discharge of the member's official duties as a result of bodily injuries sustained or as a result of extreme exercise or extreme activity experienced in the course and scope of those official duties and who leaves the fire or rescue squad service because of this disability shall be entitled to be paid from the fund a monthly benefit in an amount of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00) per month a monthly pension benefitunderthis section beginningthefirst month afterthemember's fifty-fifth birthday.
(c) A member who is totally and permanently disabled while in the discharge of the member's official duties as a result of bodily injuries sustained or as a result of extreme exercise or extreme activity experienced in the course and scope of those official duties and who leaves the fire or rescue squad service because of this disabilityshall be entitled to be paid from the fund a monthly benefit in an amount of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00) per month a monthlypension benefit underthis section beginningthefirst month afterthemember's fifty-fifth birthday.
All applications for disability are subject to the approval of the board who Board, and theBoardmayappoint physicians to examineand evaluatethedisabled memberpriorto approval of the application, and annually thereafter.
All applications for disability are subject to the approval of the board who Board, and theBoardmayappoint physicians to examineand evaluatethedisabledmemberpriorto approval of the application, and annually thereafter.
58-86-41 shall not apply to a disabled membershall not berequired to makethemonthly payment offifteen dollars ($15.00)as required by G.S.
58-86-41 shall not apply to a disabled membershall not berequired to makethemonthlypayment offifteendollars ($15.00)as required by G.S.
(d) A member who is totally and permanently disabled for any cause, cause other than line of duty, those under subsection (c) of this section and who leaves the fire or rescue squad service because of this disability and who has at least 10 years of service with the pension fund, *DRH40038-MRp-20* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Pension Fund may be permitted to continue making a monthly contribution of fifteen dollars ($15.00) in the amount required under G.S.
(d) A member who is totally and permanently disabled for any cause, cause other than line of duty, those under subsection (c) of this section and who leaves the fire or rescue squad *H37-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 service because of this disability and who has at least 10 years of service with the pension fund, Pension Fund may be permitted to continue making a monthly contribution of fifteen dollars ($15.00) in the amount required under G.S.
The Upon attaining the age of 55, that member shall upon attaining theageof 55 years be entitledto receivea monthly pension as providedby benefit under this section.
The Upon attainingthe age of 55, that member shall upon attainingthe ageof 55 years be entitledto receivea monthlypension as provided bybenefit under this section.
If the member became a member prior to July 1, 2018, and had not designated a principal beneficiary prior to being killed in the line of duty, there shall be paid to the member's living spouse upon the spouse's application to the Board, an amount of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00)permonththemonthlypensionbenefit amountbeginningthemonth following the member's month of death, payable until the spouse's death.
If the member became a member prior to July1, 2018, and had not designated a principal beneficiary prior to being killed in the line of duty, there shall be paid to the member's living spouse upon the spouse's application to the Board, an amount of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00)permonththemonthlypensionbenefit amount beginningthemonth following the member's month of death, payable until the spouse's death.
(3) If the member had not yet begun receiving a monthly pension benefit under this section prior to being killed in the line of duty, then there shall be paid to themember's principalbeneficiary,ifonly oneprincipal beneficiaryis eligible and has not accepted a return of contributions, an amount of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00) per month the monthly pension benefit amount beginning the month following the month the member would have attained age 55, or if the member had already attained age 55, beginning the month following the member's month of death, payable until the beneficiary's death.
(3) If the member had not yet begun receiving a monthly pension benefit under this section prior to being killed in the line of duty, then there shall be paid to themember's principalbeneficiary,ifonlyoneprincipalbeneficiaryis eligible and has not accepted a return of contributions, an amount of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00) per month the monthly pension benefit amount beginning the month following the month the member would have attained age 55, or if the member had already attained age 55, beginning the month following the member's month of death, payable until the beneficiary's death.
If the member became a member prior to July 1, 2018, and had not designated a principal beneficiary prior to being killed in the line of duty, then there shall be paid to the member's living spouse upon the spouse's application to the Board, an amount of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00) per month themonthly pension benefit amount beginningthe monthfollowing themonth the member would have attained age 55, or if the member had attained age 55, beginning the month following the member's month of death, payable until the spouse's death.
If the member became a member prior to July1, 2018, and had not designated a principal beneficiaryprior to being killed in the line of duty, then there shall be paid to the member's living spouse upon the spouse's application to the Board, an amount of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00) per month themonthlypension benefit amount beginningthe monthfollowingthemonth the member would have attained age 55, or if the member had attained age 55, beginning the month following the member's month of death, payable until the spouse's death.
(4) If the member had not yet begun receiving a monthly pension benefit under this section prior to being killed in the line of duty and the beneficiary is not payable as described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, then a lump sum payment equal to the member's contributions will be paid to the eligible beneficiaries, or if there are no eligible beneficiaries, a return of the contributions shall be paid to the member's estate.
(4) If the member had not yet begun receiving a monthly pension benefit under this section prior to being killed in the line of duty and the beneficiary is not payable as described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, then a lump sum payment equal to the member's contributions will be paid to the eligible Page 2 House Bill 37-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 beneficiaries, or if there are no eligible beneficiaries, a return of the contributions shall be paid to the member's estate.
Page 2 DRH40038-MRp-20 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 A beneficiary under this subsection shall not be required to make the monthly payment of fifteen dollars ($15.00) as required by G.S.
A beneficiary under this subsection shall not be required to make the monthly payment of fifteen dollars ($15.00) as required by G.S.
(e) A member who, because the If a member has at least 10 years of service with the Pension Fund and that member's (i)residenceis annexed by acityunderPart 2 orPart3ofArticle 4A of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, or whose (ii) department is closed because of an annexation by a city under Part 2 or Part 3 of Article 4A of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, or whose (iii) volunteer department is taken over by a city or county, and because of such the annexation or takeover the member is unable to perform as a firefighter or rescue squad worker of any status, and if the member has at least 10 years of service with the pension fund, may then the member shall be permitted to continue making a monthly contribution of fifteen dollars ($15.00) in the amount required under G.S.
(e) A member who, because the If a member has at least 10 years of service with the Pension Fund and that member's (i)residenceis annexedbyacityunderPart 2 orPart3ofArticle 4A of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, or whose (ii) department is closed because of an annexation bya cityunder Part 2 or Part 3 of Article 4A of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, or whose (iii) volunteer department is taken over by a city or county, and because of such the annexation or takeover the member is unable to perform as a firefighter or rescue squad worker of any status, and if the member has at least 10 years of service with the pension fund, may then the member shall be permitted to continue making a monthly contribution of fifteen dollars ($15.00) in the amount required under G.S.
Any applicationto make monthly contributions underthis sectionshall be subject to a finding of eligibility by the Board of Trustees upon application of the member.
Anyapplicationto make monthlycontributions underthis sectionshall be subject to a finding of eligibility by the Board of Trustees upon application of the member.
The monthly payments shall be credited to the separate account of the member and shall be kept by the custodian so it is available for payment on withdrawal from membership or retirement.
The monthly payments shall be credited to the separate account of the House Bill 37-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 member and shall be kept by the custodian so it is available for payment on withdrawal from membership or retirement.
DRH40038-MRp-20 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (b) A member may elect to terminate membership in the fund Pension Fund at any time and request the refund of payments previously made to the fund.
(b) A member may elect to terminate membership in the fund Pension Fund at any time and request the refund of payments previously made to the fund.
58-86-30 may apply to the board for membership.
58-86-30 mayapplyto the board for membership.
(a1) Any firefighter or rescue squad worker who is 35 years of age or older and who is a current or former member of a fire department or rescue squad chartered by the State of North Carolinamaypurchasecredit foranyperiodsofserviceto anychartered fire department orrescue squad not otherwise creditable by making a lump sum payment to the Annuity Savings Fund equal to the full liability of the service credits calculated on the basis of the assumptions used for purposes of the actuarial valuation of the system's liabilities, which payment shall take into account the retirement allowance arising on account of the additional service credit commencing at the earliest age at which the member could retire on a retirement allowance, as determined by the board of trustees upon the advice of the consulting actuary, plus an administrative fee to be set by the board of trustees.
(a1) Any firefighter or rescue squad worker who is 35 years of age or older and who is a current or former member of a fire department or rescue squad chartered by the State of North Carolinamaypurchasecredit foranyperiodsofserviceto anycharteredfire department orrescue squad not otherwise creditable by making a lump sum payment to the Annuity Savings Fund equal to the full liability of the service credits calculated on the basis of the assumptions used for purposes of the actuarial valuation of the system's liabilities, which payment shall take into account the retirement allowance arising on account of the additional service credit commencing at the earliest age at which the member could retire on a retirement allowance, as determined by the board of trustees upon the advice of the consulting actuary, plus an administrative fee to be set by the board of trustees.
(c) A member of the Pension Fund who is not yet 35 years old may receive credit for the prior service upon making a lump sum payment of fifteen dollars ($15.00) in the amount required under G.S.
Page 4 House Bill 37-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (c) A member of the Pension Fund who is not yet 35 years old may receive credit for the prior service upon making a lump sum payment of fifteen dollars ($15.00) in the amount required under G.S.
58-86-41 at the time of the payment for each month since the worker first became Page 4 DRH40038-MRp-20 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 eligible, plus interest at an annual rate to be set by the Board for each year of retroactive payments.
58-86-41 at the time of the payment for each month since the worker first became eligible, plus interest at an annual rate to be set by the Board for each year of retroactive payments.
j.
House Bill 37-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 j.
DRH40038-MRp-20 Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 k1.
k1.
Instead, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall appoint one representative of the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association to the Council in accordance with G.S.
Instead, the Secretaryof Health and Human Services shall appoint one representative of the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association to the Council in accordance with G.S.
Page 6 DRH40038-MRp-20
Page 6 House Bill 37-First Edition
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Action History

  1. Regular Message Sent To Senate

  2. Regular Message Received From House

  3. Passed 1st Reading

  4. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  5. Passed 2nd Reading

  6. Passed 3rd Reading

  7. Reptd Fav

  8. Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)

  9. Placed On Cal For 03/18/2025

  10. Reptd Fav

  11. Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  12. Reptd Fav

  13. Re-ref Com On Pensions and Retirement

  14. Passed 1st Reading

  15. Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  16. Withdrawn From Com

  17. Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 1, if favorable, Pensions and Retirement, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  18. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 69 co-sponsors · 107 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (69)

Not signed on (107)

107 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 107 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Second Reading

Passed 118 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 43001
U 2000
Unaffiliated 6000
Republican 67001
Total 118002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (120)
Member Party Vote
CharlesSmith — Yea
vonHaefen — Yea
Campbell — Yea
Reeder — Yea
C. Smith — Yea
F. Jackson — Yea
Abe Jones Democratic Yea
Aisha O. Dew Democratic Yea
Allen Buansi Democratic Yea
Allison A. Dahle Democratic Yea
Amber M. Baker Democratic Yea
Amos L. Quick, III Democratic Yea
B. Ray Jeffers Democratic Yea
Becky Carney Democratic Yea
Beth Helfrich Democratic Yea
Brandon Lofton Democratic Yea
Brian Turner Democratic Yea
Bryan Cohn Democratic Yea
Carolyn G. Logan Democratic Yea
Cecil Brockman Democratic Not Voting
Cynthia Ball Democratic Yea
Dante Pittman Democratic Yea
Deb Butler Democratic Yea
Eric Ager Democratic Yea
Garland E. Pierce Democratic Yea
Gloristine Brown Democratic Yea
James Roberson Democratic Yea
Jordan Lopez Democratic Yea
Julia Greenfield Democratic Yea
Kanika Brown Democratic Yea
Laura Budd Democratic Yea
Lindsey Prather Democratic Yea
Marcia Morey Democratic Yea
Maria Cervania Democratic Yea
Mary Belk Democratic Yea
Mike Colvin Democratic Yea
Monika Johnson-Hostler Democratic Yea
Phil Rubin Democratic Yea
Pricey Harrison Democratic Yea
Renée A. Price Democratic Yea
Robert T. Reives, II Democratic Yea
Rodney D. Pierce Democratic Yea
Sarah Crawford Democratic Yea
Shelly Willingham Democratic Yea
Terry M. Brown Jr. Democratic Yea
Tim Longest Democratic Yea
Tracy Clark Democratic Yea
Vernetta Alston Democratic Yea
Ya Liu Democratic Yea
Zack Hawkins Democratic Yea
A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. Republican Yea
Allen Chesser Republican Yea
Ben T. Moss, Jr. Republican Yea
Bill Ward Republican Yea
Blair Eddins Republican Yea
Brenden H. Jones Republican Yea
Brian Biggs Republican Yea
Brian Echevarria Republican Yea
Celeste C. Cairns Republican Yea
Charles W. Miller Republican Yea
Chris Humphrey Republican Yea
Cody Huneycutt Republican Yea
David Willis Republican Yea
Dean Arp Republican Yea
Dennis Riddell Republican Yea
Destin Hall Republican Yea
Diane Wheatley Republican Yea
Donna McDowell White Republican Yea
Donnie Loftis Republican Yea
Donny Lambeth Republican Yea
Dudley Greene Republican Yea
Edward C. Goodwin Republican Yea
Erin Paré Republican Yea
Frank Iler Republican Yea
Harry Warren Republican Yea
Heather H. Rhyne Republican Yea
Howard Penny, Jr. Republican Yea
Hugh Blackwell Republican Not Voting
Jarrod Lowery Republican Yea
Jay Adams Republican Yea
Jeff Zenger Republican Yea
Jeffrey C. McNeely Republican Yea
Jennifer Balkcom Republican Yea
Jerry "Alan" Branson Republican Yea
Jimmy Dixon Republican Yea
John A. Torbett Republican Yea
John M. Blust Republican Yea
John R. Bell, IV Republican Yea
John Sauls Republican Yea
Jonathan L. Almond Republican Yea
Joseph Pike Republican Yea
Julia C. Howard Republican Yea
Karl E. Gillespie Republican Yea
Keith Kidwell Republican Yea
Kelly E. Hastings Republican Yea
Kyle Hall Republican Yea
Larry C. Strickland Republican Yea
Larry W. Potts Republican Yea
Mark Brody Republican Yea
Mark Pless Republican Yea
Matthew Winslow Republican Yea
Mike Clampitt Republican Yea
Mike Schietzelt Republican Yea
Mitchell S. Setzer Republican Yea
Neal Jackson Republican Yea
Paul Scott Republican Yea
Phil Shepard Republican Yea
Ray Pickett Republican Yea
Sam Watford Republican Yea
Sarah Stevens Republican Yea
Stephen M. Ross Republican Yea
Steve Tyson Republican Yea
Ted Davis, Jr. Republican Yea
Todd Carver Republican Yea
Todd Johnson Republican Yea
Tricia Ann Cotham Republican Yea
William D. Brisson Republican Yea
Wyatt Gable Republican Yea
Carla D. Cunningham U Yea
Nasif Majeed U Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety veterans labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 37?
HB 37 is sponsored by Jeff Zenger (Republican), Frank Iler (Republican), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Kyle Hall (Republican), Julia Greenfield (Democratic), Dudley Greene (Republican), Edward C. Goodwin (Republican), Blair Eddins (Republican), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), Sarah Crawford (Democratic), Tricia Ann Cotham (Republican), Bryan Cohn (Democratic), Maria Cervania (Democratic), Celeste C. Cairns (Republican), Deb Butler (Democratic), Allen Buansi (Democratic), Terry M. Brown Jr. (Democratic), Kanika Brown (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), Jerry "Alan" Branson (Republican), John M. Blust (Republican), Brian Biggs (Republican), Mary Belk (Democratic), Cynthia Ball (Democratic), Jennifer Balkcom (Republican), Amber M. Baker (Democratic), Jonathan L. Almond (Republican), Eric Ager (Democratic), Paul Scott (Republican), Cody Huneycutt (Republican), Neal Jackson (Republican), Julia C. Howard (Republican), Matthew Winslow (Republican), David Willis (Republican), Shelly Willingham (Democratic), Donna McDowell White (Republican), Diane Wheatley (Republican), Harry Warren (Republican), Bill Ward (Republican), Brian Turner (Democratic), Larry C. Strickland (Republican), Phil Shepard (Republican), Mitchell S. Setzer (Republican), Stephen M. Ross (Republican), Dennis Riddell (Republican), Heather H. Rhyne (Republican), Reeder, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. (Republican), Renée A. Price (Democratic), Lindsey Prather (Democratic), Larry W. Potts (Republican), Dante Pittman (Democratic), Rodney D. Pierce (Democratic), Garland E. Pierce (Democratic), Ray Pickett (Republican), Howard Penny, Jr. (Republican), Ben T. Moss, Jr. (Republican), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Charles W. Miller (Republican), Jeffrey C. McNeely (Republican), Nasif Majeed (U), Jarrod Lowery (Republican), Tim Longest (Democratic), Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Brandon Lofton (Democratic), Donnie Loftis (Republican), Ya Liu (Democratic), Keith Kidwell (Republican), B. Ray Jeffers (Democratic), Jake Johnson (Republican), and Mike Clampitt (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 37?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 03, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 37?
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