Revise laws related to the fire suppression account

2025 Regular Session

LC 950 aims to revise how the fire suppression account is funded, governed, and spent, potentially altering allocations, oversight, and eligibility for firefighting costs.

(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

#appropriations(seealso:statefinance) #firesandfireprotection #statefinance(seealso:appropriations;taxationsubjects)

Summary: LC 950 – Revise laws related to the fire suppression account

Status and basic facts
- Bill number: LC 950
- Title: Revise laws related to the fire suppression account
- Introduced: November 8, 2024
- Classification: bill
- Subject areas: Appropriations; Fires and Fire Protection; State Finance
- Status: Draft Delivered to Requester (LC). Drafts have been circulating through late 2024 and early 2025, with the most recent milestones indicating delivery to the requester on January 6, 2025.
- Legislative actions timeline (highlights):
- 2024-11-08: Drafter Assigned
- 2024-12-20 to 2024-12-30: Drafts progressed through legal review, editing, input/proofing, and final drafting stages
- 2024-12-30: Drafts moved to Assembly and final draft-ready status
- 2025-01-06: Draft Delivered to Requester

Purpose and intent
- The bill seeks to revise the existing laws governing the fire suppression account. While the exact textual provisions are not provided in the available summary, the title indicates a reform or adjustment of the statutory framework that governs the fund used for fire suppression activities. The bill fits within appropriations and state finance considerations, suggesting changes that could affect funding authority, allocation, oversight, or eligibility related to fire suppression resources.

Key provisions (current status)
- The precise legal text and provisions are not included in the provided summary. Based on the title and subject classification, likely areas of revision could involve:
- How the fire suppression account is funded (revenue sources or balances)
- How funds may be appropriated and allocated for firefighting and prevention activities
- Governance, oversight, or reporting requirements for the account
- Rules governing transfers, expenditures, or caps/ceilings on spending
- Possible changes to eligibility of costs or programs funded by the account
- Notable: Drafts have moved through several stages (legal review, editing, input/proofing) and have been delivered as of early January 2025, indicating ongoing development prior to final introduction or potential enactment.

Potential impact
- Fiscal: As an appropriations-related measure, the bill could alter the size or manner of funding for fire suppression activities, potentially affecting state expenditures and budget planning.
- Administrative/governance: Revisions may modify how the account is administered, monitored, and reported, influencing agency processes and accountability.
- Stakeholders: State agencies responsible for fire protection, fire districts or counties that rely on state funds, and taxpayers who fund public fire suppression efforts could be indirectly affected.

What to watch for (next steps)
- Obtain the bill text: Review the actual statutory changes to understand specific amendments, definitions, and fiscal mechanisms.
- Committee consideration: Track which committees take up the bill, public hearings, and amendments.
- Fiscal note: Review any fiscal impact analysis to gauge anticipated costs or savings.
- Effective date: Note when any revised provisions would take effect (immediate or phased).

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary once the full text or a docketed analysis becomes available, or compare LC 950 to the current law related to the fire suppression account.