House Bill 1746, sponsored by Delegate Ennis, sought to add police dispatchers and animal-control officers to the statutory definition of public-safety officers.

Delegate Ennis told the committee that dispatchers now perform duties beyond clerical tasks—coordinating responders, providing lifesaving first-aid instructions and crisis intervention—and that animal-control officers in many localities carry badges, body armor and have law-enforcement authority. "This alone should place them in the same category as their colleagues," Ennis said.

Local officials spoke in favor. David Westcott, representing the city of Chesapeake, said the city supports the bill. Chief Mark Saleski, testifying online, said dispatchers "truly are the first responders of first responders" and described the career as highly stressful. He said reclassification would change retirement ages and benefits.

Committee members asked whether dispatchers were already covered by recent legislation; one member noted 2024 Senate Bill 630 added dispatchers to a list and questioned why HB 1746 was necessary. Other members expressed concern the bill merely moved dispatchers from one code section to another without substantive change. On the final roll call the bill failed to report, 2-4.

Because the committee vote failed, the measure will not advance from this committee unless reintroduced or reconsidered.