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Committee advances bill letting fire departments use dyed diesel to lower fuel tax burden
Summary
The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee gave House Bill 1281 a due‑pass recommendation to let fire departments use red‑dyed diesel (treated like ambulances) to reduce fuel expenses. Committee approval was unanimous on the recorded roll call; sponsor said savings would help departments replace gear and vehicles.
Representative Brandy Pyle urged the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee to give favorable consideration to House Bill 1281, which would allow fire department vehicles to use red‑dyed diesel in the same way ambulances do under current law. Pyle said parity with ambulance fuel rules would reduce operating expenses for the state’s 356 organized fire departments and free local property tax dollars for equipment and turnout gear.
Fire Chief John Hale of Castleton, testifying in support, described his volunteer department’s coverage (385 square miles and roughly 4,500 residents) and said the department averages about 850 gallons of diesel annually. ‘‘Emergency response, whether it be a medical or fire, should not be taxed on the fuel used to carry responders and their equipment to an emergency to help people,’’ Hale told the committee. He said the change would not pay salaries but would help keep trucks, tools and personal protective equipment current.
Department of Tax personnel confirmed the current tax structure: testimony described a 23¢ per‑gallon tax on motor fuels and special fuels and said dyed special fuel is effectively taxed at a lower rate (testimony described dyed fuel treatment as 4¢ in the hearing). Shannon Fleischer of the tax department said ambulances already have a mechanism to apply for a refund of tax paid on special fuels; proponents said the bill would allow the same treatment for eligible fire vehicles and some nonprofit fire organizations that operate ambulance or EMS services.
Senators asked whether other emergency services should be included; sponsors and the fire chief said the requested change is intended to align fire vehicles with ambulances. Supporters noted some departments already combine ambulance and fire operations and that allowing dyed diesel would be an efficiency and a modest but recurring source of funding for equipment.
The committee voted to give House Bill 1281 a due‑pass recommendation. Senator Patton moved the due‑pass motion and Senator Wallin seconded; the roll call in committee recorded Chair Weber, Vice Chair Romo, Senators Patton, Powers and Wallen voting in the affirmative. Senator Patton volunteered to carry the bill.
