The bill aims to provide compensation to the beneficiaries or dependents of active volunteer firefighters who die from cancer, recognizing such deaths as occurring in the line of duty under the existing death benefit provisions in Article 1, Chapter 30, Title 36, Code of Alabama 1975. It introduces specific criteria for claims, including that the firefighter must have passed a physical examination prior to certification, served for at least six years, been an active member of a recognized fire department at the time of cancer diagnosis, and participated in fire suppression events that exposed them to known carcinogens. The bill also establishes a presumption that the cancer is work-related if a known carcinogen is linked to the firefighter's death, unless the state can prove otherwise.

Additionally, the bill includes new legal language that clarifies the definitions of "cancer" and "volunteer firefighter," and it stipulates that any claims for compensation will be governed by the existing provisions of Article 1, Chapter 30, Title 36. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.