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HB 4144 & HB 471: Critical Updates for Texas First Responder Agencies with Paid Firefighters
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Expanding Support for Retired First Responders
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During the 89th Texas Legislature, House Bill 4144 was passed to address a major gap in benefits for retired firefighters and peace officers.
What this means:
- Provides support for service-related illnesses after retirement
- Covers serious conditions like:
- Certain cancers
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Applies to diagnoses within 3 years of retirement
Effective for First Responders who retire after January 1, 2026. |
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100% Income Replacement is Now Required
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House Bill 471 requires political subdivisions to provide:
- 100% of pre-disability earnings
- For the first 12 months of work-related disability
- Applies to:
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- Firefighters
- EMS personnel
- Law enforcement
The Challenge:
Traditional workers’ comp only covers ~70% of income
➡️ Leaving a potential 30% gap |
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Built for Compliance. Designed for First Responders.
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VFIS of Texas offers tailored solutions to help agencies meet both HB 4144 and HB 471 requirements:
HB 4144 Solution:
- Critical Illness Policy
- Covers cancer, heart attack, stroke
- Up to $100,000 per covered illness
- Reduces large lump-sum financial exposure
The VFIS of Texas HB 471 Solution (with The Hartford):
- Bridges the income gap beyond workers’ comp
- Ensures full salary replacement compliance
- Protects both employees and department budgets
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Are You Prepared for These Changes?
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If your department has paid firefighters on staff, these legislative updates may directly impact your benefits responsibilities and compliance requirements for both active and retired personnel.
Don’t wait until compliance becomes a problem. VFIS of Texas is ready to help you navigate these new requirements with confidence.
📩 Request a quote or schedule a conversation today: benefits@winstarins.com
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Why Clients Trust VFIS of Texas
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Discover why first responders trust VFIS of Texas! Check out our client testimonials online here, and watch real stories from our community in our video testimonials playlist on YouTube.
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Did You Know We Have a Monthly Newsletter?
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Don’t miss out on all things VFIS of Texas, important dates, and information related to all things Texas First Responders. |
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New VFIS University Single Sign-On Platform |
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VFIS University is moving to a Single Sign-On solution, Okta, to help enhance security and user experience beginning Monday, April 27.
Here’s how this simple transition will work:
- Look for an activation email on April 27 from no-reply-okta@vfis.com. Ask your IT team to “whitelist” this email address to help ensure you receive it and check your Spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox.
- Activate your account using the link in the activation email.
- Set your password. Passwords must be least 8 characters long, and contain an uppercase, lowercase, number, and symbol. You can use a previous password, if it meets those requirements.
We appreciate your time and dedication to safety!
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VFIS of Texas will be at the SFFMA 150th Annual Training Conference & Convention
📍 Waco, TX
📅 June 11–14
Stop by our booth to:
- Learn more about HB 4144 & HB 471 solutions
- Talk with our team about your department’s needs
- Pick up our NEW 2026 Challenge Coin
- Participate in our Coin Flip Competition
👉 Chance to win cash money back again this year!
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