The New Jersey Senate has approved legislation aimed at providing tax relief to volunteer first responders. The bill, S-788, was sponsored by Senator Carmen F. Amato, Jr. (R-9) and received bipartisan support.
If enacted, the measure would exempt stipends paid to volunteer emergency medical services personnel and firefighters from state income tax, as well as temporary disability insurance (TDI) and family leave insurance (FLI) taxes.
Senator Amato said, “The men and women who volunteer as EMS and firefighters give their time and risk their safety to protect our communities. I’m proud to have worked across the aisle with Senator Gordon Johnson to provide meaningful tax relief for our first responders. This bill ensures that volunteers who step up for their community are not unfairly taxed on the modest stipends they receive for answering the call to serve.”
This legislation is part of a broader effort in New Jersey to encourage more residents to become volunteer first responders. Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Gregory E. Myhre, both representing District 9, are co-sponsors of the Assembly companion bill A-1429.
The full text of S-788 is available online.
