Texas House Bill 4144 (HB 4144) is a law passed by the 89th Texas Legislature that requires local government entities to provide critical illness supplemental benefits to qualifying retired firefighters and peace officers.

• Effective Date: Signed into law in June 2025, the bill went into effect on September 1, 2025, and applies to eligible individuals who retire on or after January 1, 2026.
• Who it Covers: Firefighters and peace officers who retire from departments or agencies with at least 50 personnel (volunteer firefighters also count toward department size totals).
• Qualifying Conditions: If a retiree is diagnosed with a heart attack, stroke, or one of 11 specific occupational cancers within their first three years of retirement, they qualify for the benefit.
• The Benefit Amount: Affected cities or political subdivisions must provide a critical illness supplemental income benefit or comparable health coverage totaling the lesser of the retiree's final yearly salary or $100,000.
• Exemptions: Cities and political subdivisions that already provide comparable retiree healthcare plans are exempt from the new mandate.

The TML Risk Pool HB 4144 Critical Illness Coverage provides a fully insured MetLife and Amwins program that complies with Texas House Bill 4144 mandates for qualifying first responder retirees

Master Policyholder: Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TMLIRP)
Insurance Carrier: MetLife (fully insured with a four-year rate guarantee)
Administration: Amwins
Eligibility: Texas political subdivisions with 50+ firefighters or peace officers
Retiree Coverage Window: Diagnoses within 3 years of retirement (for retirees on/after January 1, 2026

Compliance with Texas House Bill 4144

Participation provides eligible retired firefighters and peace officers with financial protection following a diagnosis of certain serious illnesses within three years of retirement. This benefit recognizes the occupational risks associated with public safety service, supports the long-term well-being of those who have served the community, and ensures the City complies with the requirements of Texas House Bill 4144.

Approval of Resolution 26-R-114 authorizing an ILA with TMLIRP for Group Critical Illness Insurance.

The fiscal impact will be a recurring expenditure based on the number and age of eligible retired firefighters and peace officers enrolled in the critical illness coverage program.
Costs will increase as additional eligible employees retire and are enrolled in coverage for the required three-year period.
Currently, for CY 2026, we have 3 retirees we are required to provide this coverage for, which results in a monthly cost of $403 and an annual cost of $4,836.

Approval of Resolution 26-R-114 authorizing an ILA with TMLIRP for Group Critical Illness Insurance.