House Bill 669 establishes a statewide pilot program to reimburse volunteer firefighters for certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred while responding to emergencies. Administered by the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management, the program would reimburse mileage from a firefighter’s duty station to the scene of an emergency, accident, or other qualifying event, using the IRS standard business mileage rate. It also allows reimbursement for personal equipment used at the scene to secure the scene or treat injured individuals, with reimbursement requests submitted through the volunteer organization’s commanding or highest-ranking officer within 60 days of the event.
The pilot program is scheduled to run through June 30, 2026, and the Division must report to the Joint Legislative Emergency Management Oversight Committee on its effectiveness, including the number and amount of requests, participating organizations, and whether the program should be expanded, made permanent, or modified. The bill also appropriates $1 million in nonrecurring General Fund money for fiscal year 2025-26 to operate the program, and directs the Division to implement and advertise the program by January 1, 2026, while consulting with volunteer firefighter organizations.
HB669 would create a new temporary reimbursement program in state law for volunteer firefighters, adding a state-funded mechanism to offset mileage and equipment costs associated with emergency response. It would place administrative responsibility with the Division of Emergency Management, require a claims process through local volunteer fire leadership, and establish reporting obligations to the legislature. The bill also makes a direct appropriation from the General Fund, affecting state spending for FY 2025-26 and potentially setting the stage for future policy changes if the pilot is extended or made permanent.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears generally supportive of volunteer firefighters and their operational needs, with no recorded committee debate or votes indicating opposition or amendment. The structure of the bill as a pilot program with a required effectiveness report suggests a cautious, evaluative approach rather than an open-ended commitment. Overall, the available record points to a favorable or at least noncontroversial posture at introduction, though the bill had only been referred to Appropriations and had not yet advanced further in the provided history.
The main potential points of contention are fiscal and administrative rather than ideological. The $1 million appropriation may draw scrutiny over cost, especially because the program is statewide and could expand if participation is high. There may also be questions about eligibility, documentation, and whether reimbursement for personal equipment could be difficult to verify or administer consistently across volunteer organizations. Any debate would likely center on whether the pilot should be expanded, made permanent, or narrowed after the required report, but no specific opposition is shown in the provided materials.