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SF 4903

Volunteer firefighter pension income taxation subtraction establishment

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Mathews

Minnesota bill would allow volunteer firefighters to exclude pension income from state taxation, reducing their tax burden on retirement benefits.

Referred to Taxes
#fireandfirefighters #retirement #taxation-income #volunteers
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Bill Summary · SF 4903

Legislative bill overview

SF 4903 would establish a tax subtraction for volunteer firefighter pension income in Minnesota, allowing volunteer firefighters to exclude a portion or all of their pension payments from state income tax. This targets a specific occupational group to provide tax relief on retirement benefits earned through volunteer service.

Why is this important

Volunteer firefighters often receive modest pension benefits despite significant personal risk and time commitments, and tax relief could improve financial security for retirees in this role. This also reflects a policy choice about how states prioritize incentivizing volunteer emergency services versus general tax policy.

Potential points of contention

  • Revenue impact and fairness: Tax subtractions reduce state revenue; critics may question whether volunteer firefighters should receive preferential tax treatment compared to other public servants or low-income retirees
  • Scope definition: The bill's specifics are unclear without full text—questions remain about eligibility thresholds, pension amount limits, and whether it applies to all volunteer pensions or specific types
  • Precedent setting: Establishing occupation-specific tax breaks could invite similar requests from other groups (police, EMTs, teachers), potentially fragmenting the tax code

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

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