Relates to the membership and purposes of the Volunteer and Exempt Firemen's Benevolent Association of Coldenham Inc.

Broader Coldenham firefighter support, tighter membership

The law establishes the Volunteer and Exempt Firefighter’s Benevolent Association of Coldenham, Inc., as a nonprofit and takes effect immediately. Membership is open to active Coldenham volunteer firefighters who have, or will gain, exempt firefighter status under state law. Eligible people join by notifying the secretary or attending the organizing meeting, following the association’s bylaws. People expelled for cause cannot join; membership ends if active service stops before exempt status is earned. The association can help volunteer members who are disabled, in need, or injured on duty, and their families. Its purposes also include family welfare, member health and safety, headquarters upkeep, social and recreational activities, and promoting local volunteer firefighting. The association collects foreign fire insurance premium taxes for the Coldenham Fire District, covering parts of Newburgh and Montgomery in Orange County. It also receives a share of state-law tax distributions based on insurance business written in that territory. For taxes due on premiums received on or after January 1, 2026, spending expands beyond relief for needy firefighters and families. The money must support only the association’s listed purposes. The law sets no individual payment amount.