By Kevin Landrigan
The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
(TNS)
During National Police Week, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., is co-authoring bipartisan legislation to provide two years of federal income tax forgiveness for families of fallen first responders.
If adopted, the bill would mean the families of policemen, firefighters and other first responders who die in the line of duty would not pay federal income tax on that fallen employee’s income for the year of their death and the preceding year.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has signed onto the bill, which would allow families to be eligible to receive refunds for any taxes paid for those years.
“First responders sacrifice for our communities each and every day, and when some make the ultimate sacrifice, we owe their surviving families our support,” Hassan said in a statement.
“This bipartisan bill provides the families of our fallen heroes with financial support as they navigate their loss and also ensures that the last thing that they have to worry about is an unexpected bill from the IRS. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to help support the families of our first responders.”
Cornyn is locked in a tight reelection contest with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic nominee James Talarico.
The Congressional Budget Office has yet to “score” the cost of the legislation, but a Hassan office spokesperson said if adopted, it’s expected to cost less than $10 million a year.
The New Hampshire Troopers Association and New Hampshire Police Association have endorsed the bill, known as The Relief for Families of the Fallen Act, along with the National Association of Police Organizations, Major Cities Chiefs Association and Concerns of Police Survivors.
There are annual ceremonies held this week in Washington, D.C., that honor active and retired police.
Hassan noted the bill would mirror a provision that’s given to families of fallen service members.
Hassan has co-sponsored other bipartisan legislation that’s yet to become law to make it easier for first responders to buy a home and receive mental health treatment.
Photo credit: Maggie Hassan/YouTube
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© 2026 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.). Visit www.unionleader.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
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