Workers’ compensation was built around visible, physical injuries. For first responders, trauma is often psychological, cumulative, and no less disabling. Historically, many workers’ compensation statutes demanded a physical injury trigger before mental injuries were compensable, leaving PTSD claims under-covered or denied. However, over the last several years, Florida and a growing number of states have changed those rules. With growing federal focus on psychological trauma, 2026 could mark a turning point—making PTSD coverage for first responders broader, faster, and more predictable within workers’ compensation systems.
Florida’s 2018 First Responders PTSD Benefits Act established a significant shift in the workers’ compensation system—allowing PTSD claims for first responders without requiring a physical injury. The 2021 statute recognizes PTSD as an occupational disease for first responders and sets out the benefits framework, including medical care and potential wage replacement, with proof requirements keyed to “clear and convincing medical evidence.”
Expanding roles and modernizing access
In 2024, Florida State Senator Danny Burgess (R) introduced SB 1490, First Responders and Crime Scene Investigators, which extended PTSD benefits to 911 public safety telecommunicators and crime scene investigators, formally acknowledging secondary trauma and exposure to violent details can be occupational hazards for non-field roles. The bill also embraced telehealth for PTSD diagnoses in certain contexts, aligning Florida’s workers’ compensation practice with modern care delivery and easing access in rural or resource constrained jurisdictions.
Recent Legislative Efforts
Florida’s commitment to first responder mental health didn’t stop with the 2018 PTSD coverage law. In the 2025 session, lawmakers introduced several bills aimed at strengthening support systems:
These efforts show progress, but bigger mental health programs and dedicated funding remain incomplete, making 2026 a critical year for expanding protections and resources.
Not just a Florida issue
From Florida to the Nation
Momentum for PTSD coverage isn’t just at the state level, Washington is stepping in. The bipartisan Fighting PTSD Act (S 825) introduced in the 119th Congress, would require the Department of Justice to create nationwide treatment programs for first responders, signaling that mental health is now recognized as an occupational hazard. While states like Georgia, Rhode Island and Oklahoma are expanding workers’ comp presumptions, federal involvement may set a baseline for care standards, funding, and best practices. If this shift continues, we may see a more unified approach to PTSD coverage across the country in 2026.
Florida’s 2018 decision to cover PTSD for first responders without requiring a physical injury marked a major shift in workers’ compensation. Since then, the state expanded eligibility to include dispatchers and embraced modern tools like telehealth for diagnoses. These small changes may have a big impact. As the 2026 legislative agenda approaches, stay tuned to state legislators and regulators making mental health protections for first responders a priority.