Bill > HB2943

This bill prohibits cities and towns from reducing the annual operating budget for their municipal fire departments below the previous year's budget. If a city or town does reduce the fire department's budget, they must notify the state treasurer, who will then withhold an equivalent amount of state shared monies from the city or town. The state treasurer will continue withholding these funds until the city or town confirms that the fire department's budget has been restored to its previous level. The bill provides an exception to this requirement if the city or town does not have sufficient funds to maintain the previous year's budget. Importantly, the bill defines a "fire department" specifically as a municipal fire department. The legislation also amends two existing statutes (42-5029 and 43-206) to include provisions for implementing these budget withholding requirements, ensuring that cities and towns cannot reduce fire department funding without financial consequences. The goal appears to be protecting municipal fire department funding and preventing potential budget cuts that could impact public safety services.

Business and Industry, Justice

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/83422