Senate Bill 1651, also known as House Bill 2394, amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to prioritize funding for public safety departments, specifically county-wide fire departments and volunteer fire departments. The bill establishes a new section under Title 5, Chapter 17, Part 1, which states that if a county creates a county-wide fire department, the county's governing body should prioritize the appropriation and allocation of funds to this department, ensuring it receives funding at least equivalent to that of the sheriff's department.

Additionally, the bill introduces another new section under Title 5, Chapter 9, Part 1, which mandates that if a volunteer fire department provides fire protection services to an entire county and requests funding, the county's governing body should similarly 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 (TFIRS). This act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.