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.
Newport News officials proposed a pay raise and step plan to be more competitive with neighboring departments
Ogdensburg officials anticipate overtime costs estimated at almost $300K
Atlanta’s Fire Station 16 was home to the city’s first Black firefighters
The USFA campus in Emmitsburg will host the NFFF 2026 Memorial Weekend during the ongoing DHS shutdown
Troy’s new Engine 2, designed for the city’s hills and dense infrastructure, will serve the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute area as officials continue investing in public safety
The Winston-Salem city council approved a nearly $2 million compensation overhaul boosting salaries up to 9.5%
A unanimous vote allows regulators to mandate cleanup of PFAS-containing foam, require reporting and restrict its use as concerns grow over “forever chemical” contamination
Hinckley Township officials approved higher wages and new hiring options as the department struggles to recruit and retain full-time firefighters amid regional shortages
Baltimore County’s $3M investment would more than double battalion chief staffing
The Secretary of Health and Human Services restores hiring for the World Trade Center Health Program, easing shortages that have delayed care and claims for thousands of responders and survivors
The coverage explored how national policy shifts affect firefighter safety, funding and operational readiness
A state requirement will force ambulance services to install dash cameras, with smaller agencies facing added costs as larger providers say the technology improves safety, training and accountability
Critics say repealing union rights for Salisbury police, firefighters and other employees could deepen staffing shortages and threaten public safety as city leaders cite mounting financial strain
Tucson officials are considering shutting down two fire stations and freezing hiring as they work to close a multimillion-dollar shortfall
Essex and Gloucester departments are among 307 across the state sharing $5 million in state funding to buy updated protective gear and vehicle stabilization equipment
A new scholarship program will help Cuyahoga County students pursue police, fire and EMS training as agencies struggle with recruitment and retention
Experts warn that the agency’s plan to close most of its research facilities could disrupt critical wildfire and climate data, undermine firefighting efforts and deepen a broader erosion of federal science capacity
Palmerdale Fire District joins the Retirement Systems of Alabama in a $1M effort to boost recruitment, retain staff and give firefighters the financial security long out of reach
The state will send grant funding to rescue squads and fire departments, including agencies in Bristol, Piney Flats, Johnson City and Kingsport, to help buy equipment
Oceanic Hook and Ladder and Richmond Engine responded to more than 2,000 emergencies in 2025, but leaders say the two Staten Island volunteer companies are struggling to cover basic costs
A new law lets fire departments use state grant funding to cover up to half the cost of soybean-based fire suppression products, giving another PFAS-free option while supporting safer operations and agriculture
The funding will support the construction of a second fire station as Scion Township leaders work to expand fire service coverage
An Executive Order would compensate employees working without pay as the partial government shutdown stretches into its seventh week
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin ends the $100,000 sign-off requirement imposed by predecessor, aiming to ease FEMA bottlenecks and speed recovery aid
Inevitable or misguided? Supporters see stipends as necessary while critics question the impact on tradition
The Forest Service’s deputy chief of fire and aviation management, Sarah Fisher, says the operational firefighting workforce will remain unchanged despite broader reorganization plan
Bipartisan legislation would fund National Fallen Firefighters Foundation programs supporting Fire Hero Families through proceeds from commemorative coin sales
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