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Senate panel advances bill to protect volunteer fire departments’ sales-tax exemption for appearance/training fees
Summary
The Senate Revenue & Tax Committee passed HB 10-26, which clarifies that modest appearance or training fees for volunteer firefighters will not count against sales-tax exemptions when buying equipment, a change sponsors said will help recruitment and retention.
Senator Blake Johnson introduced House Bill 10-26, saying the bill would codify an exemption so appearance or training fees paid to volunteer fire departments would not jeopardize their sales-tax exemption when purchasing equipment. He said the statutory language increases the listed amount from $20 to $50 and is intended to help volunteer departments maintain and recruit membership.
Committee members asked whether the reference was to appearance fees or training fees; Senator Blake Johnson said the language is intended to cover either — appearance, training, calls or similar uses — so those modest fees are not deemed taxable receipts that would disqualify equipment purchases from the sales-tax exemption. The committee moved to pass the bill; the motion carried by voice vote.
The measure was approved out of committee by voice vote with no recorded opposition. No fiscal or implementation details beyond the statutory change were provided during presentation.
