The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1491, aims to establish a grant program administered by the Department of Administrative Services to support municipalities with populations of ten thousand or fewer in funding fire suppression infrastructure. This program will reimburse eligible municipalities for costs associated with fire suppression infrastructure, such as fire hydrants. The Department is required to provide detailed information about the grant program, including eligibility criteria and the application process, on its website by October 1, 2025.

The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and introduces new legal language to create this grant program, while no existing legal language is deleted. The initiative is designed to enhance fire safety resources in smaller communities, ensuring they have the necessary infrastructure to effectively manage fire emergencies.