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VA HB986

VA HB986
Fire Programs Fund; allocation, Virginia At Risk Fire Grant Program established.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Insurance; Fire Programs Fund; purposes; Virginia At Risk Fire Grant Program established. Increases the assessment on certain insurance companies from one percent to 1.5 percent. The bill provides that the portion of the Fire Programs Fund allocated to localities may be used for the additional purposes of (i) constructing, improving, or expanding fire station facilities; (ii) providing mental health resources for fire personnel; or (iii) hiring additional fire personnel and funding recruitment and retention programs. The bill also prohibits such funds from being used, except as provided, for the purposes of investments, operating expenses, debt repayment, taxes, or fees. The bill also establishes the Virginia At Risk Fire Grant Program, to be funded by 0.25 percent of the assessments on insurance companies, for the purposes of providing assistance to localities with fire departments that are determined to be most at risk of being unable to provide fire suppression or rescue activities or maintain compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

AI Summary

This bill increases the assessment on certain insurance companies from one percent to 1.5 percent, with 0.25 percent of these assessments dedicated to a newly established Virginia At Risk Fire Grant Program. This program will provide assistance to localities whose fire departments are deemed most at risk of being unable to provide essential fire suppression, rescue activities, or maintain legal compliance. Additionally, the bill expands the allowable uses for funds allocated from the Fire Programs Fund to localities, permitting them to be used for constructing, improving, or expanding fire station facilities, providing mental health resources for fire personnel, and hiring additional firefighters or funding recruitment and retention initiatives, while explicitly prohibiting their use for investments, operating expenses, debt repayment, taxes, or fees.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Left in Labor and Commerce (on 02/18/2026)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB986
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB986) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096453.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB986/text/HB986
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