A new New York state law is set to protect property tax relief for first responders. The law extends property tax benefits to spouses of volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers killed in the line of duty. Previously, loved ones could only claim those benefits if their spouse was on the job for more than five years. The new law knocks that threshold down to two years. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill this month. It was put forth by Brentwood State Senator Monica Martinez.