House Bill No. 6973 proposes changes to the health insurance premium structure for active members of volunteer fire departments and ambulance services within municipalities. The bill allows towns, cities, or boroughs to negotiate a percentage of the health insurance premium that these volunteers would pay, rather than mandating that they cover 100% of the premium and any additional costs. This change is intended to make it more feasible for volunteers to participate in the group insurance plans offered by their municipalities, provided they elect coverage and meet the active status requirements set by the municipality.

The bill repeals the existing language in subsection (a) of section 7-464 of the general statutes, which required volunteers to pay the full premium amount. Instead, it introduces new language that allows for a negotiated percentage of the premium to be paid by the volunteer. This legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and is expected to have a potential cost impact on municipalities that provide these benefits, as they will now be responsible for a portion of the premiums for volunteers who choose to enroll in the insurance plan.