By Rep. Pauline Wendzel

Michigan’s volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel are the backbone of emergency response in rural and small-town communities. These men and women give their time, risk their safety, and often bear financial costs—all to protect their neighbors, frequently without any compensation.

That’s why I introduced House Bill 4008: to offer a state income tax credit to our volunteer first responders. It’s a practical, commonsense way to recognize their service and help ease the financial burden of volunteering.

Across Michigan, fire and EMS departments are seeing a troubling decline in volunteer numbers. As staffing dwindles, response times grow longer—and in some communities, vital emergency services are at risk of disappearing altogether. If we want to maintain the standard of safety our residents expect, we need to do more to support those who answer the call.

HB 4008 is a targeted solution. It helps offset out-of-pocket expenses like training, travel, and missed work—costs that too often fall on volunteers themselves. In many cases, these men and women spend thousands of hours each year on call, all while balancing full-time jobs and family responsibilities. They don’t do it for praise or profit—they do it because they care.

This bill ensures their sacrifices don’t go unrecognized. By providing meaningful tax relief, we send a clear message: Michigan values and supports its volunteer first responders.

I’m looking forward to the House Finance Committee taking up this legislation swiftly. Let’s show the men and women who run toward danger that we have their backs—and make sure help is always there when our communities need it most.