SB 2745
Bill adding a cost-of-living raise to first responder death benefits
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to a cost-of-living increase applicable to death benefits paid to spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty under the workers' compensation system.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Surviving spouses get a yearly three percent increase.
The bill adds a yearly three percent cost-of-living raise to workers' compensation death benefits paid to eligible spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty. It touches those surviving spouses and the insurance carriers that pay the benefits. Each January 1, starting with payments made in 2026, carriers must recompute the benefit with the three percent adjustment, even above the normal weekly cap.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the Senate Business & Commerce committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2745 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to a cost-of-living increase applicable to death benefits paid to spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty under the workers' compensation system.
WHAT IT DOES
Surviving spouses get a yearly three percent increase.
The bill adds a yearly three percent cost-of-living raise to workers' compensation death benefits paid to eligible spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty. It touches those surviving spouses and the insurance carriers that pay the benefits. Each January 1, starting with payments made in 2026, carriers must recompute the benefit with the three percent adjustment, even above the normal weekly cap.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Business & Commerce
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$40,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$40,000.00
- Cash
- $40,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $40,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100982305, 101012314.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$40,000.00
- Cash
- $40,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $40,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100982305, 101012314.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 S Referred to Business & Commerce
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Family--Marriage Relationship
Fire Fighters & Police--General
Insurance--Life & Annuities
Labor--Workers' Compensation
Text
The text as introduced · 242 words
89R16160 KKR-D By: Paxton S.B. No. 2745 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a cost-of-living increase applicable to death benefits paid to spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty under the workers' compensation system. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 408.181(b), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) Subject to Section 408.061 and except as provided by Section 408.1811 , the amount of a death benefit is equal to 75 percent of the employee's average weekly wage. SECTION 2. Subchapter J, Chapter 408, Labor Code, is amended by adding Section 408.1811 to read as follows: Sec. 408.1811. AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFITS FOR ELIGIBLE SPOUSES OF CERTAIN FIRST RESPONDERS. (a) Notwithstanding Section 408.061, the amount of a death benefit paid to an eligible spouse of a first responder described by Section 408.183(b-1) is increased to include a three percent cost of living adjustment in accordance with Subsection (b) each calendar year. (b) Not later than January 1 of each year, an insurance carrier shall recompute the amount of a death benefit to be paid under this section by applying the three percent adjustment to the amount otherwise required to be paid under Section 408.181. SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a death benefit payment made on or after January 1, 2026. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.