TennesseeTennessee provides annual vehicle grants for volunteer fire departments
Beginning July 1, 2026, selected volunteer fire departments may receive state grants for part of the local match on federal vehicle grants, depending on available funding.
What it does
Volunteer fire departments selected by the commissioner may receive state grants to help meet the local match for federal vehicle grants. The state cannot cover the full match, and the law states an intent to provide an initial $1 million for 2026–2027 without confirming that appropriation.
The commissioner must try to share funding in proportion to the number of recognized volunteer fire departments in each of Tennessee's three grand divisions. Money left over stays available for either firefighter grant program in later years.
The commissioner must set rules for reviewing requests and choosing recipients, following Tennessee's law for state agency rulemaking.
Argument forSelected volunteer fire departments could get help paying part of the local match for federal grants to buy vehicles.
Argument againstDepartments could receive uneven shares across Tennessee because the commissioner must try, but is not required, to distribute money proportionally.
More detail
The commissioner of commerce and insurance sets the state contribution and chooses which departments receive grants. The grants go to selected volunteer fire departments. Grants help departments meet local match requirements for federal vehicle grants. State grants cannot pay the full local match in any year. The law states an intent to provide an initial $1 million for fiscal year 2026–2027; the text does not confirm that this money was appropriated. The program provides grants annually beginning July 1, 2026.
The commissioner must try to distribute grant money in proportion to the number of recognized volunteer fire departments in each grand division. The distribution goal covers Tennessee's three grand divisions. The commissioner must try to spend all money appropriated for the program each year. Money left over stays available in later years for the vehicle grant program or the volunteer firefighter equipment and training grant program; it does not return to the general fund. The spending goal applies each year, and remaining money may be spent in later fiscal years.
The commissioner must make rules for reviewing grant requests and choosing recipients. The rules cover requests and awards under the vehicle grant program. The rules must follow Tennessee's law for state agency rulemaking. The act took effect for making rules on May 21, 2026, and for all other purposes on July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1031Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/21/2026, 07/01/2026
- May 21Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 28Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 22Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Apr 22Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0660)
- Apr 22Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA1050)
- Apr 22Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Apr 21Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0799)Minor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1201)Major
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 91, Nays 0, PNV 0Passed House
- Apr 21Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 20
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026 4/16/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 16Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 16H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026
- Apr 15Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Apr 15Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026
- Apr 15Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Apr 15Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026
- Apr 8Placed behind the budget
- Apr 8Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
- Apr 1Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026
- Mar 30Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 3/30/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 30Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means SubcommitteeMinor
- Mar 30Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 25Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/30/2026
- Mar 24Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee 3/24/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE CITIES & COUNTIES SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee 3/18/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026
- Mar 11Action Def. in s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee to 3/18/2026
- Mar 11Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
- Mar 5Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
- Feb 5P2C, ref. to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Feb 5Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 3Filed for introductionIntroduced
Public Safety