The bill, Substitute House Bill No. 7053, establishes a working group tasked with developing uniform statutory definitions for the terms "first responder" and "essential worker." The working group will consist of at least five members appointed by the chairpersons and ranking members of the relevant joint standing committee, along with representatives from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Labor Commissioner, the Commissioner of Public Health, and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or their designees. The group is required to submit a report on its findings and recommendations by January 1, 2026, and will terminate upon submission of this report.

The bill includes new legal language that establishes the working group and outlines its composition and responsibilities, with no deletions from current law. It specifies that all initial appointments must be made within thirty days of the bill's effective date, and the first meeting of the working group must occur within sixty days. The administrative staff of the relevant joint standing committee will support the working group, and the bill is expected to have no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities. House Amendment "A" clarifies certain aspects of the bill without altering its overall intent.