Senate Bill No. 1318 establishes a new fee structure for certain telecommunications services to support the Firefighters Cancer Relief Account. Effective October 1, 2025, the bill mandates that each telephone and telecommunications company, as well as providers of commercial mobile radio service and voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service, charge subscribers a fee of five cents per month per access line. The collected fees must be remitted to the Office of the State Treasurer for deposit into the Firefighters Cancer Relief Account by the fifteenth day of each month. Notably, the bill exempts customers of prepaid wireless telecommunications services from this fee.

The legislation is projected to generate significant revenue for the Firefighters Cancer Relief Account, with estimates indicating an annual gain of $2.4 to $3.0 million starting in fiscal year 2027, and between $1.8 million to $2.25 million for the partial year of fiscal year 2026. This revenue is intended to fund wage replacement benefits for eligible firefighters diagnosed with cancer, addressing a previous funding gap caused by a federal ruling against the diversion of funds from the enhanced emergency 9-1-1 program. The bill reflects a commitment to supporting firefighters' health and welfare through dedicated financial resources.