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A 2985

Exempts volunteer fire companies from charitable registration fees.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Fantasia and 3 co-sponsors

A-2985 exempts volunteer fire companies from charitable registration fees, reducing their financial burden while keeping oversight for other charities unchanged.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
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Bill Summary · A 2985

Bill Summary: A-2985 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill amends the Charitable Registration and Investigation Act of 1994 (P.L.1994, c.16) to exempt volunteer fire companies from charitable registration fees.
  • Overall aim: reduce regulatory and financial burden on volunteer fire organizations while preserving existing registration requirements for other charities.

Key provisions and changes

General exemption from charitable registration fees

  • The act already imposes registration requirements and fees on charitable organizations that raise funds. A-2985 adds a specific exemption for:
    • Volunteer fire companies that are actively engaged in protecting life and property.
    • Organizations organized under Title 15 of the Revised Statutes or Title 15A of the New Jersey Statutes, or established fire districts under N.J.S.40A:14-70.

Scope of the exemption

  • The exemption applies to volunteer fire companies and similar organizations performing fire protection or related emergency services.
  • The exemption is aligned with entities “organized pursuant to Title 15” or “Title 15A” or fire districts, indicating traditional municipal or quasi-municipal volunteer fire structures.

Other existing exemptions retained

  • The bill maintains existing exemptions for:
    • Religious corporations, trusts, foundations, associations, or organizations and their affiliates engaged in charitable activities.
    • Educational institutions and libraries meeting specified criteria, with reporting requirements to the State Department of Education.
    • Charitable campaigns with gross contributions under $10,000 if run solely by volunteers, with a requirement to register if contributions exceed $10,000 in a fiscal year.

Local unit considerations

  • Provisions detailing when a “local unit” of a parent organization can be treated as registered (subsection d) remain in place, including conditions about solicitation by local unit members, absence of paid fund-raising staff, and contribution thresholds. These provisions apply to broader charitable organizations but are distinct from the volunteer fire company exemption.

Effective date

  • The act takes effect on the first day of the second month after enactment.

Who is affected

  • Beneficiaries of the exemption: Volunteer fire companies and similar organizations that are actively providing fire protection and emergency services.
  • Indirectly affected: Other charitable organizations and educational institutions that remain subject to the current registration and fee framework; the change does not alter their obligations beyond the new exemption for volunteer fire companies.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: Introduced January 13, 2026; referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee.
  • Effective date: Two months after enactment (i.e., a delayed effective date post-enactment to allow transition).
  • Registration and reporting framework: For those not exempt, the existing structure requiring registration, annual reporting, and potential Attorney General reporting remains in place.

Practical impact

  • Estimated impact: Approximately 750 volunteer fire organizations would benefit, with estimated total fees around $52,000 annually.
  • Financial relief is targeted and narrow, focusing on reducing administrative costs for volunteer firefighting entities while preserving oversight andfund-raising transparency for other charitable organizations.

If you want, I can tailor this summary for a policy brief, lay summary for the public, or a side-by-side comparison with current law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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