ND HB1279

Creates a presumption that heart attacks, strokes, vascular ruptures, and similar cardiac events occurring within 48 hours of strenuous physical activity or emergency response are compensable injuries for firefighters and law enforcement officers with less than five years of service.

Requires firefighters and law enforcement officers who use tobacco to provide yearly documentation showing no tobacco use for the preceding two years to be eligible for occupational disease benefits.

Expands the list of presumptively compensable conditions for firefighters and law enforcement officers to include lung disease, respiratory disease, hypertension, heart disease, bloodborne pathogen exposure, and occupational cancer.

Mandates employers provide medical examinations at no cost upon employment and periodically based on years of service (every five years for 1-10 years, every three years for 11-20 years, every year for 21+ years).

Applies retroactively to workers' compensation claims filed after October 1, 2021, allowing previously denied claims to be resubmitted if the initial denial was based on the condition not being compensable.