After years of fighting for stronger presumptive coverage, New Mexico fire fighters have secured a major legislative win expanding occupational cancer protections. The victory followed coordinated advocacy by the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters and the IAFF, culminating in the passage of House Bill 128.
Signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the measure strengthens the state’s cancer presumption statute and enhances workers’ compensation protections for fire fighters diagnosed with occupational cancers.
“This is what labor collaboration looks like at its best,” said 10th District Vice President Stephen Gilman. “When the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters, IAFF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan Whu, and the IAFF work together, we don’t just make noise — we make change.”
This is what labor collaboration looks like at its best. When the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters, IAFF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan Whu, and the IAFF work together, we don’t just make noise — we make change.
10th District Vice President Stephen Gilman
Miguel Tittmann, president of the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters and Albuquerque, NM Local 244, called the legislation a major step forward for members across the state.
“We were able to expand our presumptive cancer coverage, adding lung, prostate, ovarian, and cervical cancers, and removing the age cap for testicular and breast cancers,” he said. “They no longer have to fight insurance companies with these diagnoses, which happen often in the fire service. It’s crucial fire fighters feel confident they’re covered by workers’ comp, so they don’t worry about insurance battles. This matters not only to the diagnosed fire fighters but also to their colleagues and families.”
with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and former
IAFF union leader, Diego Arencón.
Organizing win and advocacy efforts
The effort builds on more than a decade of advocacy. New Mexico first adopted a cancer presumption law in 2009, marking a significant labor victory at the time. In 2019, advocates successfully expanded the statute to include PTSD. Despite those gains, many fire fighters diagnosed with cancer still faced age caps, long service requirements, and inconsistent standards that made it difficult to qualify for benefits.
Former New Mexico Fire Fighters and Albuquerque, MN Local 244 President Diego Arencón, now Lujan Grisham’s Deputy Chief of Staff, was an early advocate for cancer presumption protections. Around 2009, he worked alongside Lujan Grisham to advance legislation recognizing fire fighter cancers as occupational illnesses. In the years that followed, they continued working to strengthen those protections for New Mexico fire fighters.
Building on that early work, union leaders later pushed to strengthen the law by aligning state protections with the federal Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, which improved the Public Safety Officers’ Benefit (PSOB) program by recognizing 20 cancers as occupational for death benefits.
“IAFF resources were critical in this effort,” said Tittmann. “The IAFF was very generous with resources and made the case that our coverage should be more comprehensive to match the federal death benefit, arguing that if you’re going to cover it in death, you should also cover it while they’re alive.”
IAFF resources were critical in this effort. The IAFF was very generous with resources and made the case that our coverage should be more comprehensive to match the federal death benefit.
New mexico professional fire fighters president miguel tittmann
IAFF’s Health and Safety Division and the passing of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act
Gilman helped make the connection with the IAFF’s Health and Safety Division and Whu. During legislative hearings, Whu contributed his medical, scientific, and epidemiological expertise, sharing evidence-based research to help lawmakers better understand the occupational hazards and toxic exposures fire fighters face.
“Because of my background as a medical doctor, epidemiologist, and fire fighter, I am often called upon to testify on the findings of fire service research, the evidence of which is conclusive; occupational cancer is an epidemic in fire fighters,” said Whu. “Under the leadership and direction of General President Edward Kelly, the IAFF was able to heavily advocate for and promote the science demonstrating the carcinogenicity of firefighting in order to get the Honor Our Fallen Heroes Act passed.
I am glad that New Mexico legislators, too, recognized the overwhelming evidence supporting this grim fact and that because of it, New Mexico fire fighters will now have greater protections against occupational cancer, the number one cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service,” Whu said.
Gilman called the legislation a hard-fought victory for fire fighters across New Mexico.
“President Tittmann and the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters didn’t just win a legislative battle – they won dignity for our members,” Gilman said. “This is exactly why we organize.”
