Committee hears ‘Fighting Chance for Firefighters’ tax-credit bill for cancer screenings

The House Committee on Taxation heard House Bill 2024, the "Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act," which would allow firefighters to claim a nonrefundable income-tax credit of up to $250 for unreimbursed medical expenses incurred for cancer screening beginning in tax year 2025.

The reviser summarized the bill as written: the credit is nonrefundable, may be carried over up to five taxable years, and the total credit allowed for tax year 2025 would be capped at $1.5 million. The bill provides a mechanism for the secretary of revenue to apply a percentage adjustment in future years if claims exceed the annual cap.

Kathleen Smith of the Kansas Department of Revenue told the committee the department assumed the maximum authorized credits would be claimed and estimated a $1.5 million impact beginning in fiscal year 2026; using $250 per claim implies approximately 6,000 individuals could claim the credit if each claimed the maximum. Smith said the department also included funding for one new FTE (about $72,181) to handle taxpayer questions and additional return processing related to tax credits.

Becky Tuttle, Wichita City Council member and lead local backer, described the local initiative in Wichita—"Protecting Our Heroes"—and listed multiple firefighter organizations and local departments supporting the bill, including International Association of Fire Fighters Locals across Kansas, the Wichita Fire Department, Kansas Fire Chiefs Association and the State Fire Marshal’s offices. Tuttle cited national IAFF statistics during her remarks: she said the IAFF reports cancer accounts for 66 percent of line-of-duty deaths for U.S. firefighters and that firefighters face elevated cancer diagnosis and mortality rates compared with the general population.

Mike Day, a fire captain with the Olathe Fire Department and cancer survivor, testified that early screening saved his life after a colonoscopy found cancer at stage 2A. Day described his treatment and credited early screening with the outcome; he urged the committee to help ensure firefighters have access to and reimbursement for screening.

Committee members asked whether volunteer firefighters would be eligible; the reviser answered the bill’s definition of "firefighter" includes public employees or volunteers, and proponents said they expect the credit to cover both paid and volunteer firefighters. Members also questioned details of the cap and the prorating mechanism; the reviser and Department of Revenue described the statutory formula as somewhat complex and said they could work with the committee on clarifying language. The Department of Revenue also noted administrative burdens that come with additional tax credits and requested resources to answer taxpayer questions.

No neutral or opponent witnesses appeared in person; the committee closed the hearing on the bill with no vote recorded.