Senate Bill 1651 aims to enhance funding for public safety departments in Tennessee, specifically focusing on county-wide fire departments and volunteer fire departments. The bill introduces new sections to the Tennessee Code Annotated, mandating that if a county establishes a county-wide fire department, the county's governing body must prioritize the appropriation and allocation of funds to this department. Furthermore, the funding for the county-wide fire department should be at least equivalent to that of the sheriff's department.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that if a volunteer fire department provides fire protection services to an entire county and requests funding, the county's governing body is also required to prioritize funding for the volunteer fire department. The bill defines a "volunteer fire department" as one recognized by the state fire marshal's office and classified as such by the Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System. This act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.