Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters - MPFF

05/27/2026

Representative Tim O’Driscoll has been a longtime ally of the firefighters, especially when it comes to our pension. Rep. O’Driscoll is a seasoned member of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, which recommends pension-related bills for passage by the legislature.

Rep. O’Driscoll has always been a good partner to us—someone who is willing to listen to Minnesota’s firefighters and work together to find a solution. We wish Rep. O’Driscoll a long, healthy and happy retirement. Thank you Tim for your service to your community and support of Minnesota’s fire service!

05/26/2026

First in our series of shoutouts to state lawmakers that were key to getting pension increases and cancer presumption in the state PSOB is Senator Judy Seeberger !

Sen. Seeberger is a paramedic and firefighter herself, and she admirably brought that experience to her work at the Capitol this year. She knows firsthand what it means to do the job, and what resources our firefighters and paramedics need on the job and into their retirement.

Sen. Seeberger testified in direct support of the bill that added cancer as one of the eligible criteria for the state PSOB, and played a key role in advancing the bill that reduced the COLA wait period for Police and Fire retirees.

Thank you Senator for always being a fierce advocate for Minnesota’s firefighters!

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 🙏 This , we honor the brave men and women who gave their lives for our country.

Their sacrifice secured the freedoms we enjoy today – and it will never be forgotten.

05/20/2026

Another huge legislative win for the MPFF! Governor Walz just signed the bill that will reduce the waiting period for PERA Police & Fire plan retirees to receive their first Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA. Previously, new retirees needed to wait two years before receiving their first COLA—that time has been cut in half to twelve months.

Inflation is a major factor when it comes to the long term buying power of our retirees’ pensions. In multiyear stretches of high inflation, retirees watch their hard-earned pension income struggle to keep pace with rising costs of day to day life. Reducing the waiting time to receive a COLA helps to close that gap.

Securing a win like this one is no small feat in a bonding year, and is a testament to the tenacity of our officers, the relationships we build with our legislators, and those legislators’ commitment to supporting our members who have given decades in service to their communities.

Over the next week, we’ll be recognizing some of the lawmakers who led the effort on passing pension improvements and changes to the Minnesota PSOB—stay tuned!

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

With GP Kelly, GST Líma and District VP Mitchell in town for the 5th District Conference, it was a good opportunity to present our newest Local with their charter.

Congratulations and welcome to Farmington Firefighters Local 5626!

05/18/2026

The 5th District Conference is underway in Minneapolis! Members from Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota are convening to become better union officers and take their skills back to every Local that makes up the 5th District.

The morning began with speeches from General President Edward Kelly, General Secretary-Treasurer Frank Líma, 5th District VP Mahlon Mitchell and Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her.

Over today and tomorrow, attendees will receive training from IAFF instructors on skills like negotiation, representation and building membership engagement.

05/13/2026

HUGE news from the state capitol tonight:

The Minnesota Legislature has passed legislation that will add cancer as an eligible condition for the state Public Safety Officers’ Benefit (PSOB), which is a benefit paid to the families who lose a firefighter or police officer in the line of duty. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for a signature.

Cancer is the most common cause of firefighter LODDs—this law ensures those who make the ultimate sacrifice are treated the same, no matter if the cause is cancer, heart disease, stroke, or injuries sustained at a fire.

This law mirrors the federal HONOR Act passed in December last year, which ensures families of firefighters who perish from job-related cancer receive the federal PSOB, and they will now receive the Minnesota PSOB too.

This massive legislative victory represents years of hard work by the MPFF board, especially by President Scott Vadnais, who has worked tirelessly this session to push for this bill until it became law.

Special thank you to Senator Judy Seeberger and Representative Pete Johnson for leading the charge on this bill in their respective houses. Thank you to Representatives Kelly Moller and Paul Novotny for finding the vehicle to move the bill through the legislature, and to Senator Erin Murphy for getting this bill added in late into the session.

Thank you especially to Julie Paidar, who has been a champion of this legislation and a driving force that inspires all of us.

Lastly, thank you to all of our members across Minnesota. Your support and participation in this union is what makes change like this possible, and you are who we fight for every year at the Capitol. It’s an honor to serve our members!

05/11/2026

Sign up today for the Winona Firefighters Local 575 MDA 5K! All proceeds go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association to help their mission of providing support to children affected by neuromuscular disorders.

The Winona Firefighters 5k is on Saturday June 6, 2026.

05/07/2026

Well done Jonathan!

05/05/2026

Thank you Pete for leading the way to ensure Minnesota’s firefighters are protected if they perish in line of duty from occupational cancer. Three in every four LODDs are caused by cancer, and it’s time these firefighters and their families get the support they deserve.

Legislative advocacy is a core mission of the MPFF. When firefighters speak for firefighters at the Capitol, we know that our lawmakers are as informed as possible when making the decisions that affect us and our families.

This bill has successfully passed in the House, and its companion bill is now moving through the Senate. You can help us by contacting your Minnesota state senator today and asking them to support SF 4667.