HB 1078 Summary

• Establishes the Rural Volunteer Firefighter Clothing Allowance Grants Act to provide monetary grants to rural volunteer firefighters for clothing costs and to incentivize recruitment and retention.

• Creates the Oklahoma Firefighter Clothing Allowance Revolving Fund under the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, funded through appropriations, donations, and grants, with proceeds budgeted and expended for grant awards.

• Grants are allocated to eligible applicants (those with one year or more volunteer firefighting experience) meeting four criteria with equal weight: membership in a Certified Oklahoma Fire Department, 75% response rate to department calls, 24 hours of training annually, and timely application submission by Fire Chiefs.

• Requires the State Board of Agriculture to develop disbursement procedures, application processes, an appeals process, and maintain oversight to ensure grant funds are used exclusively for approved purposes; the Department of Agriculture provides staff and administrative support.

• Applications must be submitted by the last business day in July, certified by Fire Chiefs by the last business day in August, and grants processed and distributed by the last business day in September; unencumbered balances may be awarded as additional grants for approved purposes.

• Becomes effective November 1, 2025.