The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved legislation on Tuesday, October 20, expanding survivor benefits for the families of additional public safety employees killed in the line of duty.
Expedited Bill 32-26, co-led by Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke, Sidney Katz and Evan Glass, expands the HERO Act to include deputy sheriffs and frontline correctional and rehabilitation officers.
The HERO Act was originally passed in December 2025 following the death of Montgomery County Master Firefighter Christopher Higgins in January 2025. The legislation increased survivor benefits for families of career firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty and established a process to provide financial assistance without delay.
The newly approved legislation extends those expedited benefits to additional public safety personnel, ensuring their families receive similar financial protections.
“Our first responders on all fronts show up for our County every single day,” Katz said. “It’s our responsibility to ensure their families are not left behind.”
Councilmembers said the expansion addresses gaps in existing survivor benefits and recognizes the risks faced by deputy sheriffs and correctional officers serving Montgomery County.
