Legislation and Funding
Legislation and funding issues always affect EMS budgets and operations. Use this topic to find out how the latest economic news is affecting EMS.
How one day transformed emergency preparedness and the lives of generations of first responders
The Rural Health Transformation Program may be one of the biggest opportunities EMS has seen in years, but winning the money is only the first challenge
NEMSAC’s sprawling agenda reveals a bigger challenge: deciding what comes first — and recognizing that almost nothing fits neatly into one committee
Howard County’s council voted to extend up to $2,500 in annual tax credits to retired police, firefighters, correctional officers and 911 dispatchers starting in 2027, with an estimated 128 retirees becoming newly eligible
Warren County’s study will examine long-term solutions for struggling EMS districts as town budgets wrestle with rising costs and declining personnel statewide
Rep. Dan Meuser announced the Assistance to Firefighters Grant funding, which will support training, protective equipment, facility upgrades and apparatus for volunteer departments across several counties
Tacoma City Manager Hyun Kim’s 2027-2028 budget proposal would eliminate both alternative response programs to help close a $40 million shortfall
The unanimous vote raises Bellingham’s basic life support fees from $877 to $1,177 and advanced life support from $1,093 to $1,393
Bryan Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health Care program saves the city nearly $1 million a year in ambulance operating costs
The council recommends two round-the-clock ALS crews under Ottumwa Regional Medical Intensive Care Services, backed by Ottumwa Fire Department, plus a rural volunteer response network ahead of a potential funding levy vote
With seven EMS units currently operating outside fire stations, Cleveland’s plan would renovate or replace aging facilities to bring ambulance crews back in-house while improving safety features like better ventilation and dedicated female quarters
The 10-year tax would fund Norvell Township’s re-established police department, EMS and ambulance services, and fire contracts with Cambridge and Napoleon townships
The proposed $1 million tax would fund round-the-clock EMS staffing in the rural town, adding $332 a year for a $200,000 property, as New York towns statewide struggle with shrinking volunteer EMS
Aldermen Rob Savidge and Keanuú Smith-Brown abstained from votes on the firefighter agreement, with Savidge citing the union’s censure of him over paramedic funding
The two-year deal, approved just before the prior contract’s expiration, preserves wage increases and Rural Health Transformation funding while giving FCAG time to develop a publicly run EMS model
Bipartisan House bills from Reps. Angela Witwer and David Prestin would let 17-year-olds obtain EMT or medical first responder licenses with parental consent, addressing a statewide shortage
Federal funding includes $4.2 million to train and recruit rural EMTs and paramedics, along with investments in hospitals, behavioral health and maternal care
St. Charles County Ambulance District says Proposition Paramedics would help address rising call volume, prevent planned staffing cuts and eliminate balance billing for residents
Cleveland plans to use up to $1.03 million in federal funding to replace 151 mobile radios used by police, firefighters and EMS crews in emergency vehicles
Sacramento Fire says 79 frequent 911 users generated more than 5,100 EMS responses, consuming emergency resources and contributing to response delays
Rural ambulance leaders told lawmakers that rising call volumes and operating costs are straining EMS districts as the state considers changes that could slow or reduce property tax revenue
Portsmouth adopted rules to fully implement collective bargaining nearly three years after first authorizing it, establishing bargaining units for firefighters, police and other city employees
EMS leaders are asking Texas lawmakers to revise the Rural Ambulance Service Grant Program to give counties more flexibility in funding providers and equipment
A Washington state audit found Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency understated 2025 revenue and expenses by $3.99 million over its accounting for radio purchases and reimbursement
Alden officials and longtime provider Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps are negotiating temporary coverage until Mercy Flight EMS is expected to take over Jan. 1
Harrisburg officials are reviewing the city-run BLS ambulance service after questions about operating costs, revenue and responses outside city limits
The proposals would generate more than $3.3 million annually over the next four years for EMS response in central Marin County
MEDIC EMS is seeking up to $720,000 to launch a mobile health program that would send paramedics and EMTs to rural patients’ homes for non-emergency care
Specially trained paramedics will provide in-home follow-up care for up to 1,200 patients a year in an effort to reduce hospital readmissions and prevent avoidable emergencies
