On June 24, 2026, hundreds of California firefighters descended on the state capital, and members of the Professional Firefighters of Sonoma County, Local 1401, were among them. Together they joined their brothers and sisters from across the state to advocate for a bill that could change the future of firefighter retirement in California.

The day began with a rally on the Capitol steps, a powerful show of unity from the men and women who risk their lives to protect our communities. From there, firefighters moved to the State Senate office building to participate in a hearing on AB 1383, the Retirement Security for Firefighters Act, authored by Assemblymember McKinnor.

What is AB 1383?

AB 1383 would make targeted but critically important adjustments to California's public employee retirement system. Specifically, the bill would lower the retirement age for public safety personnel from 57 to 55, create a new safety plan option providing a 3% at 55 formula, allow public employees to bargain for prospective increases in retirement benefits, and update the compensation cap to align with the current Social Security wage base. For more information on the campaign to pass AB 1383, visit https://www.cpfactivism.org/retirement.

Why This Bill Matters

The push for AB 1383 comes 12 years after the passage of the Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) in 2012, which raised the retirement age for firefighters to 57 while lowering retirement formulas. While PEPRA generated significant savings for local governments, those savings came at a steep cost to the men and women on the front lines.

Firefighters face health risks unlike those in almost any other profession. They carry a 14% higher risk of dying of cancer than the general population, a risk so significant that the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified occupational exposure as a firefighter as a Group 1 known human carcinogen. Every shift brings new exposure to smoke, toxic chemicals, circadian rhythm disruption, and physical trauma.

The math is straightforward: the longer a firefighter is required to work, the greater the likelihood they will develop a serious job-related illness, shifting costs from pensions to workers' compensation and industrial disability claims rather than eliminating them.

A Bill That Is Moving Forward

AB 1383 passed the Assembly on January 29, 2026 with a strong 70-2 vote and has since passed the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee by a 5-0 vote. It now awaits a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The momentum is real, and it was built by firefighters showing up exactly the way Local 1401 and hundreds of their fellow firefighters did on June 24th in Sacramento.

The Bigger Picture

Beyond the health case, strong pension benefits make economic sense for California. Pension benefits generate significant economic activity through retiree spending power, supporting jobs and contributing billions to state and local tax revenues. Healthy pension systems also keep the public sector competitive in attracting and retaining the talented people our communities depend on.

Firefighters accept lower salaries than many of their private sector counterparts in exchange for the promise of a safe and secure retirement. AB 1383 is about honoring that promise.

Local 1401 is proud to stand with California Professional Firefighters in this fight. We will continue to push for AB 1383 until it becomes law.

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