Legislation & Funding

Legislation and funding issues always affect fire department budgets and operations. Use this topic to find out how the latest economic news is affecting the fire service, or watch video updates from the Congressional Fire Service Institute on how federal legislation relates to firefighting operations.
Full list of Legislation & Funding results
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Wash. voters approve $113M levy for fire dept.
–The levy funds 54 percent of the fire department’s annual operating budget, which includes firefighter salaries and day-to-day expenses
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First responder PTSD bill passes Idaho Senate
–The bill would give first responders who suffer from job-related PTSD workers’ compensation coverage
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Texas bill would make data ‘throttling’ in disaster zones illegal
–HB 1426 would make it illegal to “impair or degrade” mobile data in disaster zones
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Fire chief wants changes in wake of Las Vegas mass shooting
–A Nevada fire chief says he wants to bypass state lawmakers to get changes made
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Md. gov. announces firefighter pension, workers comp bills
–Surrounded by firefighters from across the state, Gov. Larry Hogan announced two pieces of legislation that he said were necessary to protect firefighters
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Mont. firefighter health and safety bill passes committee
–The Firefighter Protection Act aims to make workers’ compensation claims for job-related cancer easier for firefighters
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Ohio auditor seeks tax break for fallen first responders' spouses
–Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo is renewing his call to provide a property tax break to the spouses of first responders who die in the line of duty
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Ala. city aims to make its first responders highest paid in state
–Montgomery has been plagued with retention issues for years, losing around 60 officers and 30 firefighters last year alone
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Tenn. bill would allow first responders to carry guns while on duty
–State Rep. Clay Doggett introduced the bill and said on-scene safety has “been an overwhelming concern” for first responders
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Idaho bill would give first responders immunity for rescuing pets
–First responders who break into vehicles to rescue dogs or cats would get legal immunity under a proposed bill
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Ark. bill would give firefighters with cancer more sick leave
–“Crump’s Law” was proposed in honor of firefighter Nathaniel Crump, who lost his battle with cancer in 2017
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Trump announces deal to end record-long shutdown
–Some 800,000 federal workers have had to work without pay or have been kept from doing their jobs
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Pa. county proposes paying volunteer responders who respond to MCIs
–Beaver County Commissioner and volunteer firefighter Tony Amadio suggested pay if a first responder is involved with a "catastrophic" event such as a plane crash
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Va. bill that would allow responders to conceal, carry weapons passes Senate
–SB 1012 would allow specific firefighters and EMS providers to carry a concealed weapon
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The impact of a government shutdown on public safety
–Here's a breakdown of who is considered "essential" and "nonessential" during a federal government shutdown
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