Motion to bring volunteer firefighter $2,500 tax‑credit bill to the floor fails

A procedural motion to discharge the Ways & Means Committee and bring Assembly bill 1064 — a proposal to create a $2,500 state income‑tax credit for volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel — failed on the Assembly floor after bipartisan debate.

Assemblyman Angelino moved the motion and explained the bill’s purpose: retain and recruit volunteer fire and EMS personnel by providing a $2,500 tax credit because volunteer ranks have fallen from an estimated 120,000 a decade ago to roughly 80,000, he said. Angelino described local departments that have closed or are at risk and argued a tax credit would be a cost‑effective way to preserve services that many rural communities rely on.

Supporters urged the House to allow a vote on the bill now. Assemblyman Smollett and others said the motion would give voice to constituents and address urgent local public‑safety needs; they warned that losing volunteer capacity would be costly to replace. Opponents and the majority floor manager said the motion is procedural and bypasses the committee process; they urged respect for committee referral and said the motion was not a vote on the merits.

The clerk recorded the result: Ayes 49, Nays 86. The motion was lost and the bill remained in committee.

Why it matters: Supporters said the tax credit would be a targeted incentive to counter volunteer decline in rural areas; opponents defended committee process and regular order. The floor action illustrates tension over using discharge motions to advance minority‑sponsored legislation.