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Bill

S 4737

Volunteer First Responder Housing Act

119th Congress Introduced by Tammy Baldwin and 1 co-sponsor

The bill expands housing help to qualified volunteer first responders, expanding eligibility for USDA loan deductions and HUD discounted homes with required employer verification.

Introduced in Senate
4
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4737

Overview

  • Bill: S. 4737 (Volunteer First Responder Housing Act)
  • Session: 119th Congress (2nd Session)
  • Introduced: June 10, 2026 by Sen. Baldwin (for herself and Sen. Kramer)
  • Purpose: Expand eligibility for certain housing programs to qualified volunteer first responders
  • Key provisions: Adds eligibility criteria and verification requirements to access housing-related benefits under specific federal programs administered by the Department of Agriculture (USDA Rural Development) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Main Purpose and Intent

  • The bill aims to recognize and financially support qualified volunteer first responders (VFRs) by making them eligible for:
    • A housing-related tax-like deduction through USDA’s single-family housing guaranteed loan program
    • Eligibility for HUD’s Good Neighbor Next Door and similar home disposition programs that offer discounted home prices to first responders

Key Provisions

Section 2 – Definitions

  • Establishes terms to be used in the act:
    • Bona fide volunteer, eligible employer, and qualified services defined per section 457(e) of the Internal Revenue Code
    • Indian Tribe defined as in the Housing Act of 1949
    • Qualified Volunteer First Responder (QVFR):
    • Must be a bona fide volunteer for an eligible employer
    • Must have continuously volunteered for the eligible employer during the 2 years prior to submitting a verification letter
    • Must, in each of those 2 years, meet minimum active membership requirements or, if none, volunteer at least 200 hours
    • Must be certified as a firefighter or other first responder in the appropriate state/local/tribal jurisdiction

Section 3 – USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program

  • Eligibility for a tax/offset deduction:
    • A QVFR who submits a verification letter can receive an annual income deduction of $18,000 under 7 C.F.R. § 3555.152(c) (or its successor)
  • Verification letter requirements:
    • Issued by the head of the eligible employer
    • Must include:
    • Date the individual joined as a volunteer
    • Attestation that the individual meets the QVFR requirements (subsection 2(3) B and C)
    • A copy of the required certification (section 2(3)(D))

Section 4 – HUD Good Neighbor Next Door and Similar Programs

  • Eligibility for discounted home programs:
    • A QVFR can qualify as a firefighter or EMT for HUD’s single-family property disposition programs that discount home prices
  • Verification letter requirements:
    • Similar to Section 3, the verification letter must:
    • State the join date as a volunteer
    • Attest that the individual meets the QVFR qualifications
    • Include the certification described in section 2(3)(D)
    • Include a certification that the responder intends to continue serving as a volunteer for at least 1 year after closing

Who Would Be Affected

  • Qualified volunteer first responders and their eligible employers:
    • Firefighters and emergency medical technicians who volunteer for an eligible employer
    • Individuals who meet the 2-year active-volunteer requirements (or 200 hours/year if minimums aren’t established)
  • Federal programs and agencies involved:
    • USDA Rural Development (Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program)
    • HUD (Good Neighbor Next Door and related discounted-home programs)

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and referral:
    • Introduced in the Senate on June 10, 2026
    • Referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  • Verification process:
    • Requires submission of a verification letter from the head of the eligible employer
    • Verification letters must document join date, eligibility criteria compliance, and certification
  • Implementation timing:
    • The bill sets eligibility and verification prerequisites but does not specify funding authorizations or sunset dates; actual program administration would follow existing federal agency processes and regulatory updates

Potential Impact

  • Financial support for VFRs:
    • Up to an $18,000 annual deduction under the USDA program for qualifying volunteers
    • Increased access to affordable homeownership through HUD-discounted home programs
  • Increased recognition and retention of volunteer first responders:
    • By improving housing affordability, the bill could enhance recruitment and retention of volunteers in local departments
  • Administrative considerations:
    • Requires consistent verification from eligible employers and alignment with existing regulations for both USDA and HUD programs

If you’d like, I can provide a comparison with current housing benefits for volunteers or a plain-language FAQ for potential applicants.

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

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