TRENTON, N.J. — A bipartisan bill that would provide tax relief to volunteer first responders advanced this week after receiving approval from the New Jersey Senate Labor Committee.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Carmen F. Amato Jr., a Republican from Ocean County, would exempt stipends paid to volunteer first responders from state income tax, as well as temporary disability insurance and family leave insurance taxes. The bill is designated S-2759.
“I want to thank co-prime sponsor Senator Gordon Johnson for working together in a bipartisan manner to support our first responders,” Amato said. “The men and women who volunteer as EMS and firefighters give their time and often risk their safety to protect our communities. This bill ensures that individuals who step up to serve their community aren’t penalized by unnecessary taxes on the stipends they receive.”
The bill is part of an ongoing effort to recruit more volunteer first responders across the state.
An identical bill sponsored by Amato passed the full Senate in December but was reintroduced at the start of the current legislative session.
