HB25 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Volunteer fire departments, expenditure of funds for equipment and supplies, payment of mileage for volunteer fire depts to and from fire calls

Summary

This bill recognizes volunteer fire departments as public and lets them spend funds on station equipment and supplies and reimburse volunteers for mileage to fire calls.

What This Bill Does

It states that volunteer fire departments are public in nature and serve a public purpose. It lets them spend department funds on kitchen equipment and hydration supplies for the station and on training-related items, with the equipment remaining the property of the department and the expenses to be accounted for. It also allows mileage reimbursement for volunteer firefighters traveling to and from fire calls, up to the standard state mileage rate, with claims requiring a signed statement and approval by the fire chief and a recorded vote by the department's board; the reimbursement becomes law immediately upon governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Volunteer fire departments: may spend designated funds on station equipment and hydration/training supplies; may reimburse volunteers for mileage; must account for expenditures and obtain board approval.
• Volunteer firefighters: eligible for mileage reimbursement for travel to/from fire calls up to the standard rate; must submit a signed travel statement and be verified by the fire chief or assistant fire chief.

Key Provisions

• Section 3(a): A volunteer fire department may use funds designated for accounting purposes to purchase kitchen equipment for the fire station (ownership remains with the department) and to buy hydration drinks and similar items for volunteers during calls or training, for a public health/safety purpose; these expenditures must be accounted for by the department.
• Section 3(b): Expenditures under Section 3 must be accounted for by the volunteer fire department.
• Section 4: Volunteer fire departments may reimburse volunteers for mileage at the standard state employee rate for actual miles traveled to/from a fire call; claims require a signed statement and verification by the fire chief or assistant fire chief; payments must be authorized by a recorded vote of the board.
• Section 5: The act becomes effective immediately after passage and governor approval.
• Section 2: Definitions for 'fire station' and 'volunteer fire department' (including certification by the State Forestry Commission).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Volunteer Fire Departments