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.
Senate Bill 466, passed by the House, would allow job training credits to count toward Firefighter I Certification and grant EMS agencies a grace period for state reporting
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Waco’s police and fire chiefs are requesting a dedicated staff psychologist to support the mental health of more than 500 public safety personnel
Mastering post-award grant management enhances department operations and strengthens future funding opportunities
Corpus Christi officials approved applying for a grant to help meet national staffing standards, but the required city match raises debate over potential tax increases or budget cuts
After an investigation revealed years-long delays in Public Safety Officers’ Benefits claims, Sen. Chuck Grassley is demanding leadership changes and accountability at the DOJ
Herrin officials, firefighters and residents gathered for a ribbon-cutting and open house at Herrin’s modern fire station, which replaces a 50-year-old facility
The Department of the Interior and the USDA Forest Service announced a new year-round mental health program for wildland firefighters and dispatchers
California lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban PFAS from firefighter turnout gear by 2027, citing cancer risks and the lasting environmental impact of the so-called “forever chemicals”
President Donald Trump has directed the creation of a single wildland firefighting program, shifting thousands from the U.S. Forest Service to a new agency
Funding gaps, rising costs and blocked attempts to exit urban renewal districts have left Ada County first responders struggling to meet response-time goals
Stay current on NIOSH program layoffs, the status of the National Fire Academy and changes to FEMA
The plan includes expanding timber harvesting, integrating federal firefighting forces and boosting local emergency authority
President Donald Trump said the federal government will begin shifting disaster funding and responsibilities to state governors after this hurricane season
Four Oakland councilmembers went through the proposed budget and found funding keeping the city from having to “brown out” firehouses on a rotating schedule
When elected or appointed officials make decisions without the proper context, they have the potential to endanger public safety
Public safety leaders warn that the House-passed bill lacks critical support for upgrading outdated 911 systems, calling the omission a threat to emergency response and community safety
Kissimmee’s transition from 24/48 shifts includes a two-phase hiring plan for 49 firefighters by April 2026, funded by a new property-based fire assessment
The bill increases the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,400; it also creates a deduction for income taxes paid on OT earnings for individuals making under $160,000 per year
With a busy Atlantic hurricane season expected, lawmakers are raising concerns about emergency readiness and public safety
The 2026 plan includes a move to eliminate the EMS special fund, shifting $75M in revenue to the general fund.
Time and again, history has shown what happens when fire codes are ignored
The Emergency Management and Response — Information Sharing and Analysis Center will cease operations on June 1 amid cost reviews and federal restructuring directives
The FIRE Act would invest $20 million annually to expand safety protections, fair wages, and job training while creating a path to record expungement and long-term firefighting careers
If your fire department budget is stretched thin, every dollar matters
FEMA reversed a months-long freeze after determining key courses were critical to local and national emergency response efforts
The IAFC has formed a task force to ensure fire and EMS agencies have a voice in the future of emergency response and disaster preparedness
A plan to centralize federal firefighting under the Interior Department is raising alarms over weakened wildfire response, higher risks and rising costs
State legislators are considering funding to help fire departments replace PFAS-laden PPE, as evidence links the toxic chemicals to cancer risks
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