Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program; authorize an additional round for counties and municipalities.

H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 1 (BS\JAB)

To: Insurance;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Byrd

HOUSE BILL NO. 997

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-23-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
AUTHORIZE AN ADDITIONAL ROUND OF FIRE TRUCKS FOR COUNTIES AND 2
MUNICIPALITIES UNDER THE RURAL FIRE TRUCK ACQUISITION ASSISTANCE 3
PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 17-23-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
17-23-1. (1) There is established the Rural Fire Truck 8
Acquisition Assistance Program to be administered by the 9
Department of Insurance for the purpose of assisting counties and 10
municipalities in the acquisition of fire trucks. 11
(2) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to 12
be designated as the "Rural Fire Truck Fund." The Legislature may 13
appropriate that amount necessary to fulfill the obligations 14
created under this section by the Department of Insurance, from 15
the State General Fund to such special fund, which sum shall be 16
added to the remainder of the money transferred on July 1, 1995, 17
and during the 1996 Regular Session to the Rural Fire Truck Fund. 18
Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal 19
H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 2 (BS\JAB)

year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest 20
earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of 21
the fund. Unobligated amounts remaining in the Rural Fire Truck 22
Fund, Fund No. 3507, or in any fund created for funds appropriated 23
or otherwise made available for this program, may be used as 24
matching funds by any county with remaining eligibility as 25
provided herein. It is the intent of the Legislature that the 26
Department of Insurance continue to accept applications from the 27
counties for fire trucks as provided in subsection (3) of this 28
section. 29
(3) (a) A county that meets the requirements provided 30
herein may receive an amount not to exceed * * * One Million One 31
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,100,000.00) as provided in 32
subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), 33
(ix), (x), (xi), (xii) and (xiii) of this paragraph, and such 34
amount shall be divided as follows: an amount of not more than 35
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per fire truck for the first 36
six (6) trucks and not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars 37
($70,000.00) per fire truck for the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth 38
and eleventh trucks, and not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars 39
($90,000.00) per fire truck for the twelfth, thirteenth, 40
fourteenth * * *, fifteenth and sixteenth truck. Monies 41
distributed under this chapter shall be expended only for the 42
purchase of new or used fire trucks and such trucks must meet the 43
H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 3 (BS\JAB)

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards in the 1900 44
series and be approved by the Rural Fire Truck Review Committee. 45
(i) Any county that has not applied for a fire 46
truck under this section is eligible to submit applications 47
for * * * sixteen (16) fire trucks as follows: six (6) fire 48
trucks at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per 49
truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand 50
Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and * * * five (5) fire trucks at 51
not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a 52
total of * * * One Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars 53
($1,100,000.00). 54
(ii) Any county that has received one (1) fire 55
truck under this section is eligible to submit applications 56
for * * * fifteen (15) fire trucks as follows: five (5) fire 57
trucks at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per 58
truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand 59
Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and * * * five (5) fire trucks at 60
not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a 61
total of * * * One Million Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,050,000.00). 62
(iii) Any county that has received two (2) fire 63
trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application 64
for * * * fourteen (14) fire trucks as follows: four (4) fire 65
trucks at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per 66
truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand 67
Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and * * * five (5) fire trucks at 68
H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 4 (BS\JAB)

not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a 69
total of not more than * * * One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00). 70
(iv) Any county that has received three (3) fire 71
trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application 72
for * * * thirteen (13) fire trucks as follows: three (3) fire 73
trucks at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per 74
truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand 75
Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and * * * five (5) fire trucks at 76
not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a 77
total of not more than * * * Nine Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars 78
($950,000.00). 79
(v) Any county that has received four (4) fire 80
trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application 81
for * * * twelve (12) fire trucks as follows: two (2) fire trucks 82
at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per truck and 83
five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars 84
($70,000.00) per truck, and * * * five (5) fire trucks at not more 85
than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of 86
not more than * * * Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($900,000.00). 87
(vi) Any county that has received five (5) fire 88
trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application 89
for * * * eleven (11) fire trucks as follows: one (1) fire truck 90
at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per truck and 91
five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars 92
($70,000.00) per truck, and * * * five (5) fire trucks at not more 93
H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 5 (BS\JAB)

than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of 94
not more than * * * Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars 95
($850,000.00). 96
(vii) Any county that has received six (6) fire 97
trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application 98
for * * * ten (10) fire trucks as follows: five (5) fire trucks 99
at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, 100
and * * * five (5) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand 101
Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than * * * 102
Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000.00). 103
(viii) Any county that has received seven (7) fire 104
trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application 105
for * * * nine (9) fire trucks as follows: four (4) fire trucks 106
at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, 107
and * * * five (5) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand 108
Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than * * * 109
Seven Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($730,000.00). 110
(ix) Any county that has received eight (8) fire 111
trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application 112
for * * * eight (8) fire trucks as follows: three (3) fire trucks 113
at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, 114
and * * * five (5) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand 115
Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than * * * 116
Six Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($660,000.00). 117
H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 6 (BS\JAB)

(x) Any county that has received nine (9) fire 118
trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application 119
for * * * seven (7) fire trucks as follows: two (2) fire trucks 120
at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, 121
and * * * five (5) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand 122
Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than * * * 123
Five Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars ($590,000.00). 124
(xi) Any county that has received ten (10) fire 125
trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application 126
for * * * six (6) fire trucks as follows: one (1) fire truck at 127
not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, 128
and * * * five (5) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand 129
Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than * * * 130
Five Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($520,000.00). 131
(xii) Any county that has received eleven (11) 132
fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an 133
application for * * * five (5) fire trucks at not more than Ninety 134
Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck. 135
(xiii) Any county may apply for * * * five (5) 136
fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) 137
per truck as provided in subparagraph (xii), provided that the 138
county agrees to forego any previous fire truck under 139
subparagraphs (i) through (xi) for which the county has not 140
previously applied, and that the county has received approval from 141
H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 7 (BS\JAB)

the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program Committee to 142
apply for and receive a truck under subparagraph (xii). 143
(b) The board of supervisors of the county shall submit 144
its request for the receipt of monies to the Department of 145
Insurance. A committee composed of the Commissioner of Insurance, 146
the State Fire Coordinator, the Director of the Rating Bureau and 147
the Director of the State Fire Academy shall review the requests 148
by the boards of supervisors and shall determine whether the 149
county or municipality for which the board of supervisors has 150
requested a truck meets the requirements of eligibility under this 151
chapter. 152
(c) To be eligible to receive monies under this 153
chapter: 154
(i) A county or municipality must pledge to set 155
aside or dedicate each year as matching funds, for a period not to 156
extend over ten (10) years, local funds in an amount equal to or 157
not less than one-tenth (1/10) of the amount of monies for which 158
it is requesting distribution from the Rural Fire Truck Fund, 159
which pledged monies may be derived from local ad valorem tax 160
authorized by law or from any other funds available to the county 161
or municipality, except for those funds received by municipalities 162
or counties from the Municipal Fire Protection Fund or the County 163
Volunteer Fire Department Fund, as defined in Sections 83-1-37 and 164
83-1-39. 165
H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 8 (BS\JAB)

(ii) A municipality must provide adequate 166
documentation of its contract with the county that requires the 167
municipality to provide fire protection in rural areas. The term 168
"rural areas" means any area within the county located outside the 169
boundaries of an incorporated municipality or any incorporated 170
municipality with a population of two thousand five hundred 171
(2,500) or less. 172
(d) The Department of Insurance shall maintain an 173
accurate record of all monies distributed to counties and 174
municipalities and the number of fire trucks purchased and the 175
cost for each fire truck, such records to be kept separate from 176
other records of the Department of Insurance; notify counties and 177
municipalities of the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance 178
Program and the requirements for them to become eligible to 179
participate; adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as 180
may be necessary and desirable to implement the provisions of this 181
chapter; and file with the Legislature a report detailing how 182
monies made available under this chapter were distributed and 183
spent during the preceding portion of the fiscal year in each 184
county and municipality, the number of fire trucks purchased, the 185
counties and municipalities making such purchases, and the cost of 186
each fire truck purchased. 187
(4) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to 188
be designated as the "Rural Fire Truck Matching Assistance Fund," 189
which shall consist of funds appropriated by the Legislature from 190
H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 9 (BS\JAB)

the State General Fund or any other special source fund. The 191
Department of Insurance shall use the funds for matching 192
assistance to counties and municipalities with remaining 193
eligibility in accordance with the provisions of subsection (5) of 194
this section. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end 195
of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and 196
any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to 197
the credit of the fund. 198
(5) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the 199
Department of Insurance may provide funds to counties and 200
municipalities out of the Rural Fire Truck Matching Assistance 201
Fund in an amount exceeding the amount authorized in subsection 202
(3) of this section. However, the total amount of funds allowed 203
under this subsection combined with the funds provided in 204
subsection (3) of this section shall not exceed eighty percent 205
(80%) of the purchase price of the rural fire truck. A county or 206
municipality is eligible for such matching assistance upon meeting 207
the following criteria: 208
(a) The county or municipality's application is 209
approved for funding in accordance with the criteria in subsection 210
(3) of this section; 211
(b) The department determines that the county or 212
municipality does not have sufficient funds available for the 213
purchase of a rural fire truck with the funds authorized in 214
subsection (3) of this section; and 215
H. B. No. 997 *HR31/R674* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R674
PAGE 10 (BS\JAB)
ST: Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance
Program; authorize an additional round for
counties and municipalities.
(c) The county has received funding for no more than 216
eight (8) rounds from the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance 217
Program. 218
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 219
and after July 1, 2026. 220