A $30 million grant program to help fire departments buy equipment has passed the state House of Representatives.

House Bill 2446 passed the House in a 105-96 vote largely along party lines. Republicans, including Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren, were largely opposed. That makes its future in the state Senate uncertain, at best.

Firefighting companies across Pennsylvania would be eligible to participate in a new $30 million grant program, under legislation passed today by the state House of Representatives, according to prime sponsor Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Hughestown. .

“Fire companies are on the front lines every day, and the commonwealth can do more to support the modern needs of the fire service. This program would complement the existing annual grants to fire companies, allowing them to undertake major, transformative investments. By investing an additional $30 million in firefighting, this bill would protect communities and the lives of those who serve them.”

House Bill 2446 would establish a Fire Company Transformational Grant Program. Eligible fire companies would include municipal, volunteer, and combination companies. Grants would support equipment, facilities, staffing, and recruitment efforts.

The program would encourage regionalization through higher funding caps. Through the $30 million program, single departments would qualify for grants between $100,000 and $1 million, while combined departments would be eligible for grants between $250,000 and $2.5 million.

The competitive grant program would be administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro included a new $30 million investment — nearly doubling annual funding for fire departments — in competitive grants as part of his 2026-27 executive budget proposal. With the fate of that funding uncertain as budget negotiations continue, Haddock drafted legislation to strip the proposal from the budget and instead make it part of state law.

The state’s 2025-26 budget included $37 million for the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Program, which awards 2,510 grants to volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services, and rescue squads across the state. The program, administered through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner,provides annual, formula-based funding to eligible organizations, with grants up to $20,000 for fire companies and up to $15,000 for EMS companies.

“During the last 20 years, fire companies have been faced with reduced numbers of members and volunteers. Many of the companies also need big ticket items to update their equipment and facilities. In fact, a modern fire truck costs between $800,000 and $1.2 million. My bill would help to resolve both of those issues,” Haddock said.

A co-sponsorship memorandum is also being circulated in the state Senate by Sen. Michele Brooks, R-Greenville, that would reopen the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project to fire department purchases by reversing a 2013 change. Requests for assistance would not be able to be more than $150,000, and the total purchase/project cost would have to be at least $300,000.