PFANJ FIRST RESPONDERS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER PROTECTION ACT BECOMES LAW
Contact Information:
Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ)
Matthew Caliente, President
mcaliente@newjerseyfirefighers.org
Release Date:
January 14, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PFANJ FIRST RESPONDERS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER PROTECTION ACT BECOMES LAW
TRENTON, NJ – January 14, 2026 – Monday, the New Jersey State Legislature unanimously passed Assembly Bill No. 2145/Senate Bill No. 2373, formally known as the “New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act” and today Governor Phil Murphy signed the Act into law. This landmark legislation establishes robust employment protections for paid first responders, including firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, and law enforcement officers, who are diagnosed with work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This Act ends an era of uncertainty by prohibiting public employers from discharging, harassing, or retaliating against any first responder who takes leave for a qualifying PTSD diagnosis.
“Firefighters and first responders are exposed to traumatic events as a routine part of the job. We respond to tragedy, violence, and loss knowing it comes with a personal cost,” said Matthew Caliente, President of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ). “This law is about fairness and job protection, ensuring that first responders who suffer from service-connected PTSD are not punished for doing the job they were sworn to do. It provides clear protections so our members can seek help, remain employed, and support their families without fear of retaliation or career-ending consequences.”
For decades, our state’s first responders have faced a "silent crisis," often choosing between their mental health, their livelihood, or even their own lives. The necessity of this bill is underscored by alarming national and state statistics. Research indicates that approximately 30% of first responders develop behavioral health conditions, including PTSD, compared to 20% of the general population. Even more critical is the link between untreated trauma and fatalities:
- Suicide Rates: Nationally, more than 1,400 first responders have died by suicide since 2018.
- Fatalities vs. Line-of-Duty Deaths: In recent years, suicides among first responders have frequently exceeded the number of line-of-duty deaths, largely attributed to the cumulative toll of traumatic exposure.
- Barriers to Care: Prior to this legislation, many New Jersey first responders reported a "culture of stoicism" and a fear of being terminated if they sought mental health treatment.
“As fire fighters, we answer the call no matter the emergency, and too often that means facing traumatic scenes that most people will never experience,” said International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward Kelly. “Through the advocacy of the PFANJ, New Jersey first responders will now have the job protections they need, and we are grateful to Governor Murphy for standing with us and signing this bill into law.”
New Jersey joins the growing number of states where the IAFF, through their state associations, have been successful in codifying PTSD protections after demonstrating that mental injuries are as real, and as recoverable, as physical ones.
“Our first responders are the heroes who run toward danger when others flee, and yet, far too often, they are left to face the aftermath of their sacrifices alone,” said Assemblyman William Moen (D-Camden), a primary sponsor in the Assembly. “Bill A2145 will be a lifeline for so many of New Jersey’s bravest and finest; and is a necessary step towards ensuring that our first responders can seek the help they need without fear of retaliation."
“First responders face unimaginable stress and trauma in service of the public good which, left untreated, can have devastating effects,” echoed Senator James Beach (D-Camden/Burlington), one of the primary sponsors of Senate Bill S2373. “This bill provides an opportunity for first responders to seek the mental health treatment that they need without fearing that their job security is at risk.”
The journey of the New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act includes years of proposed bills in multiple legislative sessions, advocacy, testimony, and revisions by the PFANJ with assistance from the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police (NJ FOP). With medical care secured by the August 2025 legislation advocated for by the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association (NJSPBA) guaranteeing first responders their choice of physicians with up to twenty-fire therapeutic hours of treatment for PTSD after a critical incident, this Act safeguards the victim's seniority, benefits, and income from vindictive, or ignorant employers with a judicial procedure cost-effective to the employee.
Under the new law, a first responder is protected if their PTSD diagnosis is memorialized by a judge of the Division of Workers’ Compensation or a qualified mental health professional. Key protections include:
- Anti-Retaliation: Employers cannot terminate or discriminate against employees for requesting or taking leave.
- Right to Reinstatement: Upon being cleared by a professional, the responder must be returned to their prior position with full seniority and benefits up to two years from the critical incident if the first responder is able.
- Enforcement: Violators face civil fines of up to $10,000 for repeat offenses, and employees may seek relief through lost wage compensation and legal fees.
“The mental injuries that result from our careers are real, serious, and work-related”, added PFANJ President Emeritus Steve McConlogue. “During my tenure we made it a priority of the PFANJ that PTSD must be addressed, and even though it took years, I am proud of the continued work of the PFANJ to get this long overdue legislation across the finish line, and complete what we started!”
The PFANJ expresses its gratitude to Governor Phil Murphy for signing this legislation into law ensuring that when the "heroes on the front line" need a hero themselves, the law will stand behind them. The PFANJ would also like to thank Senate President Scutari, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, Assembly Majority Leader Greenwald, and the bill’s primary sponsors: Senator Beach, Senator Greenstein, Assemblyman Moen, Assemblyman Stanley, and Assemblyman Danielsen for their work in making this Act a reality.
“This is exactly why the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey exists. When the PFANJ introduces legislation, it is never for optics, headlines, or public relations. Our vision is always the same: to see meaningful legislation signed into law that protects our members, saves lives, and ensures our families are taken care of,” explained PFANJ President Caliente “This victory belongs to every first responder who carried their burden quietly, every family that stood beside them, and every advocate who refused to let this issue be ignored, especially Eric Basek and BB. Your vision and persistence mattered. Guided by our Workers’ Compensation counsel, the PFANJ never stopped pushing; encouraged by our lobbyist, Pete Guzzo, the PFANJ never stopped believing; and driven by our commitment the PFANJ never stopped fighting because protecting our members doesn’t end when their shift ends. This law will save lives, and that is the only outcome that matters.”
The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ), was established and chartered as a State Association by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) on October 29, 1929. It is a member of the AFL-CIO. The PFANJ represents nearly 3,500 Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Dispatchers, Fire Inspectors, Instructors, and HazMat Technicians though its over 60 locals. This includes over 3,000 of New Jersey’s approximately 6,000 professional firefighters. Its local affiliates represent first responders who work in dispatch centers, academies, airports, fire districts, suburban municipalities, and the state’s largest and busiest urban fire departments.