On June 3, Gov. Jared Polis vetoed Senate Bill 26-184 — legislation our caucus designated the “Ruben Sims Jr. Act,” named for Aurora Fire and Rescue’s first Black firefighter. He gave decades of service to this community and died of occupational cancer.
I am disappointed, and Coloradans deserve to know why.
The governor’s concerns about the Colorado Firefighter Trust are worth discussing. But his conclusion — veto rather than fix — ignores what the bill actually did. Itf expanded cancers recognized as occupational diseases and raised the evidentiary bar employers must clear to deny a claim. That second piece matters enormously to a firefighter’s family sitting across a table from an employer’s attorney while their loved one is fighting for their life.
The Trust the governor praises is voluntary. Not all fire districts participate. The governor himself calls it “not perfect.”
We tried to fix it. The veto does not.
“This was a bill to help firefighters with cancer. Let that sink in. Cancer is now the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for firefighters. Firefighters spend years breathing in toxic smoke, diesel exhaust, PFAS forever chemicals, asbestos, and other cancer-causing chemicals.” the measure’s prime sponsor, Rep. Javier Mabrey, said about the bill and veto. “Now firefighters will be battling cancer at the same time they’re battling a bureaucratic process and insurance companies to get the workers’ comp benefits they deserve.”
Ruben Sims Jr. ran toward danger so the rest of us could run away. He did not get to choose which chemicals he breathed or negotiate which cancers would be covered. We named this bill after him because that debt is not yet paid.
We will be back next session. And until we get this right, one question stands: If we are going to call firefighters heroes, why aren’t we treating them like it when they come home?
Democratic State Rep Michael Carter represents House District 36 in Aurora. He is vice chairperson of the House Judiciary Committee