Commission highlights $26 million legislative allocation for volunteer departments and lists 2025 EIP winners
May 06, 2026 | Commerce & Insurance, Deparments in Office of the Governor, Organizations, Executive, Tennessee
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Commission members announced that the legislature funded $26 million this year for volunteer and combination fire departments and reviewed which departments will receive educational-incentive-pay (EIP) awards.
A commissioner told the meeting the legislature appropriated $26,000,000 to support volunteer and combo departments this fiscal year, with a breakdown described in the meeting: $20,000,000 allocated to the volunteer equipment program, $5,000,000 reserved for rescue squads, and $1,000,000 set aside to help departments meet federal-grant match requirements for vehicle purchases. The $1,000,000 was described as assistance toward a federal match rather than full vehicle purchases.
Staff read the EIP winners list for 2025 and a list of first-year participants; the lists included departments large and small across the state (examples called aloud included Bristol, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Kingsport, Morristown, Rockwood, Rogersville and Memphis). Director Barlow noted payments already paid out to many career and combo departments and said administrative staff continued processing volunteer submissions and associated audits. "We paid out..." staff said, noting the commission was working through pending volunteer audits.
Members also raised eligibility questions and described an individual appeal (discussed separately) where a long-serving firefighter sought EIP consideration based on older live-burn credentials. Commissioners and legal staff said administrative and legal limitations constrain retroactive approvals, but that rule changes in the package could make support personnel eligible under new rules next year.
Staff said the new rules will change submission deadlines and move more toward an honor-and-audit model; the March 1 deadline for payouts remains to allow fiscal-year processing. The commission will continue outreach to departments to ensure they understand changed deadlines and audit processes.
A commissioner told the meeting the legislature appropriated $26,000,000 to support volunteer and combo departments this fiscal year, with a breakdown described in the meeting: $20,000,000 allocated to the volunteer equipment program, $5,000,000 reserved for rescue squads, and $1,000,000 set aside to help departments meet federal-grant match requirements for vehicle purchases. The $1,000,000 was described as assistance toward a federal match rather than full vehicle purchases.
Staff read the EIP winners list for 2025 and a list of first-year participants; the lists included departments large and small across the state (examples called aloud included Bristol, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Kingsport, Morristown, Rockwood, Rogersville and Memphis). Director Barlow noted payments already paid out to many career and combo departments and said administrative staff continued processing volunteer submissions and associated audits. "We paid out..." staff said, noting the commission was working through pending volunteer audits.
Members also raised eligibility questions and described an individual appeal (discussed separately) where a long-serving firefighter sought EIP consideration based on older live-burn credentials. Commissioners and legal staff said administrative and legal limitations constrain retroactive approvals, but that rule changes in the package could make support personnel eligible under new rules next year.
Staff said the new rules will change submission deadlines and move more toward an honor-and-audit model; the March 1 deadline for payouts remains to allow fiscal-year processing. The commission will continue outreach to departments to ensure they understand changed deadlines and audit processes.
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