Bill > H669

This bill establishes a Reimbursement for Volunteer Firefighters Pilot Program that will operate statewide through the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The program will provide financial compensation to volunteer firefighters for two primary expenses: mileage traveled from their duty station to emergency scenes (reimbursed at the current Internal Revenue Service standard business mileage rate) and personal equipment used during emergency responses for scene securing or treating individuals. Volunteer firefighters will submit reimbursement requests within 60 days of an event through their organization's commanding officer, with the Division overseeing the program's administration. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support the program and requires the Division to report to the Joint Legislative Emergency Management Oversight Committee by June 30, 2026, detailing the number and amounts of reimbursement requests, participating organizations, and recommendations for potential program expansion or modification. The Division is also mandated to implement the program by January 1, 2026, and advertise it on their website while consulting with volunteer firefighter organizations during the implementation process.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H669