Senate Bill No. 1318 establishes a new monthly fee of five cents for subscribers of local telephone services, commercial mobile radio services, and voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) services. This fee will be collected by the respective service providers and 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 set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

The bill 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 funding is intended to support wage replacement benefits for eligible firefighters diagnosed with cancer, addressing a previous funding gap that arose due to federal law restrictions on diverting funds from the enhanced emergency 9-1-1 program. The bill reflects a legislative effort to ensure financial support for firefighters facing health challenges related to their service.