Legislation providing pension parity for Pittsburgh firefighters heads to state Senate
Rep. Jessica Benham April 22, 2025 | 3:31 PM
HARRISBURG, April 22 – Legislation allowing spouses of deceased Pittsburgh firefighters to continue receiving pension benefits if they remarry passed the state House unanimously today, announced the bill’s author state Rep. Jessica Benham.
“Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect us—their families should never be penalized for moving forward after tragedy,” said Benham, D-Allegheny. “This bill would provide a simple fix to a legislative oversight that should have been addressed long ago. As legislators we must remain vigilant in ensuring first responders and their families are getting the support they deserve.”
Benham said surviving spouses of deceased Pittsburgh firefighters currently become ineligible for pension benefits if they remarry and that her bill mirrors a similar change implemented for Pittsburgh police spouses in 2006.
House Bill 797 now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
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