In the near future, I will introduce legislation that will make long overdue increases and updates to the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Program.

The Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Program currently allows for loans at a fixed 2 percent interest rate to fire and Emergency Medical Services companies for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or improvement of apparatus, facilities, and equipment. The program was most recently updated by Act 91 of 2020, which increased the loan limits slightly and also established an annual inflation adjustment to the loan limits. While the 2020 adjustment was helpful and long overdue, the actual costs to secure adequate facilities and equipment needed by our first responders are much higher than the current maximum loan amount, leaving our fire departments and EMS providers with massive shortfalls in funding for vital lifesaving resources. 

My legislation will make much-needed increases to all of the eligible loan categories and will also change the length of the loan payback period. My bill would allow the Office of the State Fire Commissioner to offer a 20 year loan for loans between $50,000 and $300,000, and a 30-year loan for any loan in excess of $300,000. This bill will also require that any protective equipment purchased with loans under this program does not contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Please join me in supporting our fire and EMS companies by expanding the capabilities of this important low-interest loan program.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 388 (Mar 17, 2025): 35-7364(a), 35-1)
Printer's No. 0388: 35-7364(a), 35-1)