Relates to using a portion of the public safety communications surcharge to support volunteer fire department initiatives

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Relates to using a portion of the public safety communications surcharge to support volunteer fire department initiatives; establishes the New York state volunteer fire department auxiliary fund.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A3576, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Tax Law.

Committee

Budget And Revenue · New York State Senate

Also referred to Ways and Means · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To divert monies collected from the public safety communications surcharge into a newly created fund known as the New York State Volun- teer Fire Department Auxiliary Fund. This fund will support volunteer fire departments within the state by providing them with funding for equipment and recruitment and retention programs.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Budget And Revenue
Senate Budget And RevenueMay 28, 2025Result: passed
(6) (1) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Joe DeStefano, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and 1 more on Agora

Republican3

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Jake Ashby says this is needed

Unlike paid municipal fire departments, volunteer fire departments are funded through local budgets that often do not have the financial resources to provide fire companies with the equipment and personnel needed to keep communities safe. The public safety communications surcharge which collects a fee for every wireless access line within the state to support interoperable communications programs within the state, transfers roughly 41% of its revenue into the State general fund. This money would be far more useful if it were distributed to fire depart- ments within the State who need resources to provide their lifesaving services.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Jun 6, 2025
Held for Consideration in Ways and Means
HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
May 28, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
NY Senate
Mar 21, 2025
In committee
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION - REQUESTED
NY Senate

Show full history (2 earlier events)

Jan 28, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Jan 14, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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