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Proposal would create tax subtraction to reward volunteer firefighters and EMS workers; committee hears bill
Summary
Senate File 431 would allow a state income tax subtraction for volunteer first responders — $10,000 per individual and $20,000 for married couples where both volunteer — and the committee received substantial discussion about scale, fiscal cost, and targeting to rural Minnesota before laying the bill over for omnibus consideration.
Senate File 431, carried by Senator Dan Draheim, would provide a state income tax subtraction for volunteer first responders to help recruit and retain volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel, especially in rural areas. The proposal sets a $10,000 subtraction for qualifying individual volunteers and $20,000 for married couples if both spouses volunteer.
Draheim framed the bill as an equity and public‑safety measure to address volunteer shortages: “When we call 911, we expect someone to be there to help us, no matter where we’re at in the state of Minnesota,” he said. The bill defines qualifying service, distinguishes full‑time and part‑time volunteer definitions (40 hours per year for part‑time), and cross‑references existing statutory definitions for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders.
Committee members from both parties praised the objective but raised questions about the program’s cost. The department’s revenue analysis identified a substantial fiscal effect: tens of millions over the biennia (committee discussion referenced an analysis in the tens of millions). Senators discussed options for scaling the benefit, targeting by sparsity or call frequency, or limiting eligibility to preserve budget headroom; several members asked the sponsor to consider adjustments to reach a workable fiscal outcome.
Supporters and committee members described volunteers’ role in rural areas and urged policymakers to consider multiple complementary approaches, including operational aid, recruitment initiatives and targeted relief. The committee laid Senate File 431 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.
