Gov. Larry Hogan stepped up his calls to the General Assembly to measures that would reduce the tax burden on public safety officials’ retirement benefits at a press conference at the Eastport Volunteer Fire Company Wednesday. Surrounded by firefighters from across the state, the governor announced the introduction of two pieces of legislation that he said were a necessary way to protect firefighters in the state. “We’re are not going to stop until you don’t have to pay taxes on your pension,” Hogan said to a round of applause from a group of firefighters from around the state. Titled the “Hometown Heroes Act of 2019,” Senate Bill 171 would exempt retired public safety officials — ranging from firefighters to corrections officers — from paying state taxes on retirement income specific to their employment.