Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateColoradoVetoed
SB 184: Firefighter Cancer Benefits & Workers' Compensation
Matt Ball
SB 184 status: Vetoed — Governor Vetoed (updated Jun 3, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
Not enough information
Score:Not enough information
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 60/100
Constitutionality85%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion80%
Bill summary
Currently, the 'Workers' Compensation Act of Colorado' provides that certain cancers contracted by firefighters are considered occupational diseases presumed to have been a result of the firefighters' employment. A firefighter's employer or an insurer may rebut this presumption by showing by a preponderance of the medical evidence that the cancer did not occur on the job. The act expands the types of cancer that are considered occupational diseases and strengthens the rebuttable presumption to require an employer to show clear and convincing evidence that the cancer did not occur on the job. The act exempts firefighters who are employed by the state.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Critical outlook
40%
Benefits
- Provides financial security for affected personnel
- Standardizes occupational disease compensation
- Reduces litigation hurdles for verified claims
Risks
- Increased insurance premiums for municipalities
- Higher fiscal burden on small fire districts
- Greater administrative costs for claims processing
Society
Positive outlook
65%
Benefits
- Improved safety net for firefighters
- Better family stability for injured workers
- Recognition of hazardous working environments
Risks
- Unequal protection for state-employed firefighters
- Potential friction in labor-management relations
- Risk of budget cuts to other local services
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
70%
Benefits
- Acknowledges specific occupational cancer risks
- Easier access to necessary medical compensation
- Validation of carcinogen exposure in service
Risks
- Potential for adjudication delays in medical claims
- Reliance on evidentiary disputes for coverage
- Coverage gaps for state-employed personnel
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
The change in burden of proof to 'clear and convincing' significantly raises the barrier for employers to deny cancer-related workers' comp claims.
Analysis scope
Source provided is a summary; full text analysis is unavailable.
04
Where it stands
Official recordGovernor Vetoed
- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
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06
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