Legislation and Funding
As part of the FireRescue1 Legislation & Funding topic, we highlight articles that will affect the bottom line of fire department budgets and operations.
Commissioners unanimously approved the new fee as Douglas County Fire-EMS looks to recover supply and medication costs from 911 medical calls that do not result in a billable ambulance transport
The agency is again accepting applications for its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program after a court order, but new rules could make it harder for smaller communities to compete for funding
NFFF’s Bill Webb, Firefighter Cancer Support Network receive national fire service leadership awards
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Congressional Fire Services Institute honored Bill Webb and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network at the 2026 National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium
Nearly two-thirds of Groton respondents backed adding firefighters to boost minimum staffing, as officials weigh costs and next steps
Quincy city councilors voted unanimously to replace all fire department gear after elevated levels of PFAS were found
Anne Arundel County’s state-of-the-art Station 6 replaces an aging facility, offering better access to major roads, expanded capabilities and firefighter health protections
The Ohio State Fire Marshal awarded grants to departments across the state as part of a $14.5 million fire service funding cycle
Stay current on NIOSH program layoffs, the status of the National Fire Academy and changes to FEMA
Cost spikes and delivery delays are leaving Charlotte firefighters with older trucks and growing safety concerns
Facing million-dollar price tags and years-long delays, fire and EMS agencies are using the Garage marketplace to buy and sell used rigs and fund new equipment
A divided Quincy City Council blocked funding for new turnout gear despite testing that found cancer-linked chemicals in the current equipment
Two Ashtabula County departments will use more than $21,000 in state equipment grants to purchase SCBA and battery-powered tools
The state is sending funding to 114 volunteer fire companies to help pay for wildfire gear, equipment, communications tools and training ahead of peak spring fire season.
A bill that would let unions negotiate earlier retirement and higher pension caps for newly hired public safety workers is drawing support from labor groups and warnings from local governments over rising costs
The National Volunteer Fire Council is calling on firefighters to contact lawmakers as the DHS shutdown has delayed grants and shuttered the National Fire Academy
Vice President JD Vance used the IAFF’s Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative Conference to highlight White House backing for firefighter legislation, including Social Security reform, grant funding and toxic exposure protections
Rock Volunteer Fire Department Chief Charley Pearson declined a $250,000 donation from Google, saying public trust outweighed the needed funding
Volunteer fire departments across New York are pushing for legislation that could allow stipends of up to $12,000 a year as recruitment and retention struggles deepen
Sherman Fire Rescue handled about 600 calls outside city limits in 2025, but officials say the current system funding those responses may not be sustainable
Rock Falls and Sterling fire departments will be able to expand hands-on training and improve public safety across the Sauk Valley
The bill would shield registered fire and rescue employees from employer penalties for legal, off-duty medical cannabis use, while opponents warn the lack of an impairment test could create public safety risks
GRFD used a fleet scorecard, stock and used apparatus purchases, and an in-house EVT program to stabilize operations and reset its replacement plan
Tucson Station 14 features individualized alerting, on-site decontamination and upgraded living and fitness space
As CAL FIRE transitions from a 72-hour to a 66-hour workweek to improve firefighter well-being, overtime is reaching nearly a quarter of the department’s payroll
Gov. Ned Lamont wants to create a mortgage assistance program and offer public college tuition waivers to police officers and firefighters with at least five years of service
The proposed Halo Act would criminalize interfering with Kentucky firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement within 25 feet after a warning
Since launching in May, Carroll County Department of Fire & EMS has administered blood transfusions in the field 17 times, saving 14 lives and securing five years of funding through a new federal grant
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said the federal funding will support a new Staten Island EMS classroom site, upgrades at Squad 8 and other FDNY firehouses
FEMA says it can continue emergency response early in a shutdown, but prolonged funding gaps could disrupt planning with state and local partners
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