News

A significant legislative victory for retired firefighters is making a real difference in their financial lives. The Social Security Fairness Act, strongly supported by the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (NJFMBA), has resulted in substantial retroactive payments and increased monthly benefits for retirees.

During the March 2025 NJFMBA meeting, President Ed Donnelly highlighted the impact of this legislation, noting that Local 500 retirees had begun receiving retroactive checks. "This was a life-changing piece of legislation for our members," Donnelly remarked. "The monthly check increases are life-changing."

But what exactly is the Social Security Fairness Act, and why is it so important?

The legislative landscape for New Jersey's firefighters and emergency responders is constantly evolving, with numerous bills under consideration that could significantly impact their work, benefits, and protections. At the March 2025 NJFMBA meeting, Legislative Committee Chair Carlos Mercado provided a comprehensive update on these critical developments.

With the state budget process underway following Governor Murphy's February address, the NJFMBA's legislative team is actively monitoring over 500 bills. "We are the face in Trenton for First Responders," Mercado noted, emphasizing the organization's advocacy role.

Several priority bills are currently advancing with NJFMBA support:

The New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (NJFMBA) is taking the lead on a critical safety issue affecting firefighters nationwide - the potential link between newer firefighting hood designs and an increase in burn injuries.

During the March 2025 meeting, President Ed Donnelly provided an update on the organization's research partnership with North Carolina State University and Barnabas Health to investigate this concerning trend. The initiative began when FMBA EMS Chair Steve Spurr identified a potential problem with certain hood styles, prompting a survey distributed to FMBA members and other firefighting personnel.

"There is a concern with new style hoods could be contributing to increased burn injuries," Donnelly explained. The survey results revealed enough consistency in reports to warrant deeper scientific investigation.