Legislation to protect firefighters’ income advances
House Bill 1306 would exclude contributions to length of service award programs from the definition of income under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax.
Rep. Justin Fleming May 14, 2025 | 10:59 AM
HARRISBURG, May 14 – The House Finance Committee today approved legislation that would exempt income tax on length of service awards for volunteer firefighters, according to state Reps. Justin Fleming and Joe Kerwin, who introduced the bill.
“Our volunteer firefighters donate their time and risk their lives every day to protect our health, safety and property,” said Fleming, D-Dauphin. “More than 90% of Pennsylvania’s 2,400 fire companies are volunteer.”
House Bill 1306 would exclude contributions to length of service award programs from the definition of income under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax.
“Firefighters give so much of their time and talents to keep our communities safe. They shouldn’t be taxed on the income that departments use as a retention incentive,” Kerwin, R-Dauphin, said.
To retain volunteers during an ongoing statewide firefighter shortage, some fire companies are choosing to offer length of service award programs to volunteers who remain with the fire company for a dedicated amount of time.
The representatives said they feel these award programs not only honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women who keep Pennsylvania safe, but also provide a retention incentive. They are concerned that contributions made by a fire company to a volunteer firefighter through a length-of-service award program can currently be considered compensation and taxed as income.
The bill now advances to the full House of Representatives for consideration.