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Committee advances bill to extend sales-tax exemption for volunteer fire department fundraisers
Summary
Sponsor presented SB 87 to extend an existing sales-tax exemption for fundraising by all-volunteer fire departments for five more years; the committee voted 5–0 to pass the bill to appropriations.
Sen. (presenter identified in the hearing as Mr. Cialto) presented SB 87 to extend an existing sales-tax exemption for fundraising activities of all-volunteer fire departments that is scheduled to expire Jan. 1, 2026. The presenter said the exemption treats volunteer fire departments as consumers rather than retailers so they are not required to collect or pay sales tax on fundraising events such as pancake breakfasts and T-shirt sales.
The presenter said the exemption established by prior statute has helped more than 200 volunteer departments since 2015 and that fundraisers are critical to purchasing equipment and operating these community services. “These fundraising activities such as pancake breakfast and t shirt sales are crucial for these volunteer fire departments,” the presenter said.
No witnesses appeared in opposition; the measure was moved and seconded on the floor of the committee. The committee secretary called roll and the motion to refer SB 87 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee passed on a roll-call vote of 5–0. The minutes list the following recorded ayes: Gibson; Ta; Carrillo; (DeMio) McKinner; and Quirk Silva. The chair announced, “That bill has sufficient votes 5 to 0. That bill gets out.”
The committee transmitted SB 87 to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
