Senate Bill No. 1318 mandates that all telephone and telecommunications companies, including providers of commercial mobile radio service and voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) service, charge a new fee of five cents per month for each service line. This fee is to be collected from subscribers and 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 set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

The bill is projected to generate significant revenue for the Firefighters Cancer Relief Account, with estimates suggesting 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 funding is crucial as the account was established to provide wage replacement benefits for firefighters diagnosed with cancer, following previous funding sources that were deemed impermissible under federal law. The bill reflects a legislative effort to secure sustainable financial support for this important cause.