A Senate committee on Feb. 20 adopted a third substitute and favorably recommended House Bill 65, a measure to add cancers to Utah’s presumptive list for firefighters and to set up expanded cancer screening resources for the fire service.

The bill sponsor told the panel the measure clarifies several technical provisions: it removes an existing prescreening protocol (a stakeholder agreement), increases the fiscal note for initial prescreening, and raises the years-of-service threshold tied to presumptions from five years to eight years. The sponsor said the changes reflect stakeholder consensus and results of a review conducted with Rocky Mountain Occupational Health Center.

Why it matters: supporters said the bill responds to research and field experience showing higher cancer incidence among career firefighters and aims to provide earlier, sustainable detection and care. Jack Tidrow, president of the Professional Firefighters of Utah, told the committee the effort spans two decades and cited earlier legislative work that created the initial presumptive list.

Committee and public testimony: fire-service leaders gave personal and programmatic testimony. Clint Smith, chief of the Draper City Fire Department and president of the Utah State Fire Chiefs Association, said the proposals reflect data showing the profession’s elevated cancer risk and urged passage. Jeremy Craft, Lehi fire chief, described cancer found after screening in Arizona that would have been detected earlier had a Utah program been available. Shelby Willis, deputy chief with Ogden City Fire Department, described personal detection of thyroid cancer in a prior screening program and urged screening adoption.

Formal action: the committee adopted the third substitute for HB 65 and then voted to favorably recommend the bill to the full Senate. Senator Escamilla moved the substitution; Senator Thatcher moved the favorable recommendation. The favorable recommendation passed on a recorded voice vote in committee; committee members present voted to pass the bill to the full body.

What the bill does: adds additional cancers to the presumptive list for firefighters (the bill text lists specific cancer types), adjusts screening program details and funding for initial prescreening, and raises the service-duration threshold tied to presumptive eligibility from five to eight years. Supporters said the bill also establishes a pathway to create a screening program modeled on an Arizona center’s protocols.

Next steps: with the committee’s favorable recommendation, HB 65 will go to the full Senate for consideration.