HB 1204 Summary

• Brings forward 13 Mississippi Code sections related to rural fire truck acquisition assistance programs and fire protection funding for possible amendment, effective July 1, 2025.

• Establishes Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program administered by the Department of Insurance, allowing counties to receive up to $1,010,000 per county for purchasing fire trucks at specified cost tiers ($50,000-$90,000 per truck depending on truck number).

• Creates supplementary rural fire truck fund for counties that have exhausted all rounds under the primary program, providing up to $70,000 per truck for new fire truck purchases.

• Establishes Annual Fire Fund to distribute at least $1,500,000 annually from nonadmitted insurance policy fees to rural fire truck funds and other fire protection programs.

• Requires counties and municipalities receiving assistance to pledge matching local funds equal to at least one-tenth of requested state funds and maintain fire department certifications and compliance standards.