Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

MS IAFF Newswire
Current news directly from MS IAFF locals.

Please attend the Mississippi First Responders Legislative Caucus on Thursday, March 12th
03/10/26 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

We invite all first responders to the Mississippi First Responders Legislative Caucus on Thursday, March 12 at 11:30 am to discuss Tier 5 for first responders along with other issues facing the fire service. Please show up on Thursday morning at 10:30 am to catch your senator to talk to them about the urgency of passing SB 2103.

CALL TO ACTION! CALL THE LT. GOVERNOR AND SENATOR NOW!!
03/09/26 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

First responders face higher rates of heart disease, cancer, and suicide because of the job. Treating them the same as other employees ignores the realities of the profession. Tier 5 will create a recruitment and retention crisis that threatens community safety. The House amendment to SB 2103 is a step toward fixing the problem. Call your Senators and Lt.

CRITICAL CALL TO ACTION! CALL THE LT GOVERNOR AND YOUR SENATORS
03/07/26 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

CONTACT Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (601) 359-3200 and your Senators (601) 359-3770 on Monday. Ask them to support the SB 2103 amendment that protects Mississippi First Responders from the harmful impacts of Tier 5. The House passed this amendment on Friday. Now the Senate must act.

CALL TO ACTION!!! Call (601) 359-3770
03/03/26 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

CALL TO ACTION!!!!! Call (601) 359-3770 today! Leave a message for your House and Senate members. Urge them to pass HB 1126, SB 2909, SB 2911, and SB 2613 out of committee.

Stand Together for National Firefighter Registry for Cancer
01/26/26 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

Cancer is now the leading cause of line-of-duty death for firefighters. This Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, take action. Joining the National Firefighter Registry today helps protect firefighters and strengthens the future of the fire service. Take the Gold Helmet Challenge and be part of the solution.

Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi Recognized as an NFR Champion
12/23/25 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer has recognized the Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi as an NFR Champion! We look forward to continuing to support the NFR and urge you to join the largest existing effort undertaken to understand and reduce cancer among U.S. firefighters.

Ready to make an impact? Join the NIOSH National Firefighter Registry for Cancer
12/18/25 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

If you’re a firefighter, there has never been a more important time to join the NIOSH National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer. The NFR is already the largest group of U.S. firefighters ever assembled to study cancer in the fire service. Let’s continue to grow the NFR and provide information that can help reduce our cancer risk.

The Evidence Is Clear: First Responder Careers Carry Elevated Mortality Risk
12/16/25 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

Saying first responders “live longer because they stay healthy” is simply not true and ignores overwhelming medical evidence. Firefighters, law enforcement, and EMS face elevated cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, and suicide rates directly tied to their jobs. Mississippi can’t fix what it refuses to acknowledge. Tier 5 fails first responders.

PROFAM Supports the National Firefighter Registry
11/29/25 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi
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Join the Conversation: Mississippi Firefighters and PERS Tier 5
08/21/25 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

Join the Conversation: Mississippi Firefighters and PERS Tier 5 Today at 1:00 PM, the Mississippi House of Representatives PERS Select Committee will hold a live webcast to discuss the future of our retirement system. This is your chance to listen in, get informed, and make your voice heard.

Opposing Tier 5 Language Written in HB1
03/26/25 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

The leadership of the Professional Firefighters Association has studied the PERS Tier 5 very closely and looked at the impact it will have on future law enforcement from a financial, mental, and physical wellness perspective.

URGENT: Call the Governor's Office: VETO House Bill 1!!!!!
03/25/25 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi
Tell the Governor to VETO House Bill 1 (HB1)!!! Call the Governor's Office: 601-359-3150 House Bill 1 (HB 1) is now on its way to Governor Tate Reeves' desk for signature, bringing with it serious implications for Mississippi’s fire service community. The legislation calls for a significant overhaul of the state’s retirement system, transitioning to a Hybrid Retirement System that eliminates the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) provision. ? This change strikes at the heart of what has historically made public service—particularly firefighting—a sustainable and attractive career in Mississippi. Without a guaranteed COLA, retirees will see their pensions lose value over time, making long-term financial security more difficult to achieve. ? Recruitment and retention across fire departments statewide will undoubtedly suffer as a result. Young professionals weighing career options may now think twice before committing to a demanding and often dangerous job that no longer offers the reliable retirement benefits it once did. Mississippi’s firefighters serve with dedication, courage, and commitment. This bill threatens to undermine the very support systems that allow them to do so with confidence in their future. Our communities rely on well-trained fully-staffed fire departments. We must ensure that our policies reflect that same level of commitment to those who protect us.? URGENT REQUEST! CALL THE Office of the Governor at 601-359-3150. Ask Governor Reeves to VETO HB 1 and stand in support of Mississippi's firefighters and their families.? Office of Governor Tate Reeves Now is the time to raise awareness and demand action—before it’s too late.

House Bill 1 Passes with Senate Language to include PERS Tier 5 -- Urgent Call to the State House of Representatives!
03/20/25 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

Today, the State House of Representatives passed House Bill 1 (HB 1) with language to include a Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Tier 5 category for pension reform. HB 1 does NOT include any additional funding for our PERS system that was in the original House Bill.

IAFF SURVEY SAYS: TELL US WHO HAS OUR BACKS
07/01/24 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

In our continuing commitment to listening to every member who wants their voice heard, the IAFF recently conducted an all-member survey asking them questions about the job, their personal and political priorities, and what the Executive Board should consider when making political endorsements. The results of the survey are attached.

Call Alert!! for HB 1590 and SB 2699
04/02/24 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

FOR ALL ACTIVE AND RETIREE MEMBERS OF PERS - ACT NOW! CALL ALERT!!! House Bill 1590 will be taken up by the Senate’s Government Committee tomorrow, Tuesday, April 2 at 4:00 p.m. The House of Representatives State Affairs Committee is set to meet on April 2 at 3:00 p.m.

PERS Board Issues Statement Opposing House Bill 1590
03/17/24 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

The PERS Board has issued a Statement Opposing House Bill 1590.

PERS MEMBER ALERT - RED ALERT
03/15/24 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

What You Need to Know: House Bill 1590 has passed the Mississippi House of Representatives and is now being considered by the Senate. The bill abolishes the current 10-member PERS Board effective June 30, 2024. All members of the current PERS Board have to be members of PERS.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! CALL YOUR SENATORS TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TOO!
03/14/24 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

HB 1590 passed the House and is moving to the Senate! This unprecedented bill will remove the current PERS Board from a member-owned, elected board to a politically-appointed board! Please use this message: If HB 1590 passes, you will see a mass exodus of firefighters leaving.

ACT NOW! MISSISSIPPI HOUSE PASSES HB 1590
03/14/24 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

CALL YOUR STATE SENATORS TODAY!!! House Bill 1590 passed the House and has moved to the Rules Committee of the Senate as of early this morning. The bill allows for a dramatic change of the PERS Board from a member-based board to a POWERFUL political-appointee PERS Board. The most dramatic piece of legislation regarding PERS that has been proposed in the last thirty years.

Summary of PERS Recommendations and Other Recent Board Actions
02/08/24 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

PERS of Mississippi has issued a Summary of PERS Recommendations and Other Recent Board Actions. You can review the one-page summary and the Linked Letter from PERS Executive Director Ray Higgins, Jr. here.

Some Counties Requiring a Professional Firefighter Tag Letter Annually
01/10/24 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

PROFAM has been receiving information from firefighters across the state that county tag offices are requiring a letter for annual renewal. Although our legislation does not require a letter every year, we will gladly accommodate you. Please contact us at www.pffms.org.

Impact of Reducing Annual Cost of Living Allowance on Retention and Recruitment In the Fire Service
12/27/23 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

The Fire Service in Mississippi stands as an essential pillar of public safety, dedicated to safeguarding lives and property. However, the state faces a critical challenge in retaining and recruiting skilled firefighters due to disparities in pay, benefits, and retirement requirements compared to neighboring states like Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida. The proposed reduction in the annual cost of living allowance exacerbates this issue and threatens to impede the retention and recruitment efforts in Mississippi's Fire Service.

State Legislature Changes Being Considered for CURRENT AND FUTURE PERS Members
12/21/23 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

The State Legislative 2024 Session begins on January 2, 2024. This year the State Legislature is considering changing to PERS that will remove the COLA retirement portion of our defined benefit for FUTURE PERS members and possibly FREEZE CURRENT COLA Benefits for retirees! These changes and a new Tier of this magnitude will adversely affect the fire service.

IMPORTANT VOTE FOR PERS RETIREES
03/21/23 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi
Please Watch Your Mail Box for Your Ballot - Complete and Return or Use the Instructions to Vote On-Line. We encourage retirees to vote and share the information provided. Make your choice for the person you believe will best serve the interests of current and future retirees.

MISSISSIPPI CAREER FIREFIGHTERS CALL TO ACTION!!!!
02/06/23 - Professional Firefighters Association of Mississippi

VOTE "NO" TO HOUSE BILL 605 Call your Mississippi House of Representatives NOW! Vote "No" on House Bill 605 If voted into law, this bill would allow the legislature to have veto power over the PERS Board.