Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) has announced that the State Assembly has passed new bi-partisan legislation that would allow municipalities the option to offer a real property tax exemption to those who volunteer as firefighters or emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in neighboring municipalities (A.2121-A).Norris is a co-sponsor of this legislation that now has passed in both the Senate and Assembly and now will be heading to the governor’s desk for consideration.

“Since passing the property tax exemption of volunteer firefighters and EMTs two years ago, this is a loophole that needed to be closed so volunteers in neighboring districts can now be qualified. I would like to especially thank the local volunteer firefighters and EMTs who brought this to my attention while visiting their departments and attending their annual installation dinners and I then advocated with my colleagues to move this advancement forward,” Norris said. 

“These selfless volunteers safeguard our lives as well as our property, and our communities would not be what they are without their service. Recruitment remains low, and it’s wonderful to have been able to build a consensus on the urgency of this need with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle so we can deliver real, meaningful benefits and incentives to help change that,” Norris said. 

Norris has been a leading advocate for volunteer firefighters and emergency services since he was first elected. Among his biggest achievements are the extension of the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law, the creation of the Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Task Force and efforts to assist volunteers with costs related to training, mile reimbursement and coverage for personal protective equipment. In 2022, he was a sponsor of the bipartisan legislation (Chapter 670 of 2022) to create the original property tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and EMTs that this new bill would expand upon.

It is estimated that volunteer fire and ambulance services save taxpayers in New York state more than $3.3 billion every year. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer firefighter, please visit www.fireinyou.org for more information.