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Panel backs increase in tax credit for rural volunteer emergency medical providers
Summary
The committee voted to advance House Bill 3,380 to raise the tax credit for rural volunteer EMS providers from $250 to $1,000 and extend its sunset two years; members representing small counties praised the change as meaningful for volunteer responders.
The House Committee on Revenue on May 22 voted to advance House Bill 3,380 with a due-pass recommendation and subsequent referral to the Joint Committee on Tax Expenditures. The bill would raise the tax credit available to rural volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) providers from $250 to $1,000 and extend the credit’s sunset by two years, from Jan. 1, 2028, to Jan. 1, 2030.
Supporters from small and rural districts told the committee the increase would matter for volunteer responders in small towns. A representative who said they represent Oregon’s three smallest counties told the committee, “a thousand dollars for the folks in Fossil, or Condon, or Morrow, or Moppin means a tremendous amount.” Another member recounted personal experience using volunteer emergency services and said the change would be “such a good benefit to them.”
Committee staff described the revenue impact as minimal, and the committee adopted the recommendation to move the bill forward. The motion to send HB 3,380 to the floor carried by voice vote; committee members noted the change was intended to boost support for volunteer EMS in jurisdictions with limited resources.
The bill will next be considered by the Joint Committee on Tax Expenditures for further review.
