The proposed bill, H.B. No. 2025-2026, aims to mandate that all townships and municipal corporations in Ohio provide essential firefighting and emergency medical services. Specifically, it introduces new sections 9.51 and 9.511 to the Revised Code, which outline the responsibilities of these entities to deliver these services either directly or through various authorized methods, such as joining a district or entering into contracts. The bill emphasizes that the provision of these services must be in accordance with existing legal frameworks and does not grant any new general authority for service provision.

Additionally, the bill establishes the Fire and EMS Shared Services Reimbursement Grant Program, which will be administered by the state fire marshal. This program allows eligible townships and municipal corporations to receive grants to reimburse certain expenses incurred while joining districts or councils of governments or entering into new contracts for eligible services. The reimbursement is capped at fifty percent of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of one hundred thousand dollars, and entities can only receive one reimbursement under the program. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on January 1, 2026.