# Virginia HB489: Fire Programs Fund; increases annual assessment used to fund.

Virginia HB489, Fire Programs Fund; increases annual assessment used to fund., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. (Republican); status failed, last action 2024-11-19 (Left in Finance and Appropriations) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB489-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB489
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Fire Programs Fund; increases annual assessment used to fund.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-08
- Last action: 2024-11-19, Left in Finance and Appropriations
- Sponsor: Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 12 (223 yes, 4 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Insurance; Fire Programs Fund; purposes. Provides that the portion of the Fire Programs Fund allocated to localities may be used for the additional purposes of (i) constructing, improving, or expanding fire station facilities, (ii) providing mental health resources, or (iii) hiring additional fire personnel and funding recruitment and retention programs. The bill also prohibits such funds from being used, except as provided, for the purposes of investments, operating expenses, debt repayment, taxes, or fees.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-29 | Senate | Continued to 2025 in Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 4 |   |
| 2024-02-26 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-26 | Senate | Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-13 | House | VOTE: Block Vote Passage | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-09 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024-02-09 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 20 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-08 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-08 | House | Referred to Committee on Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-06 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024-02-06 | House | Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations | pass | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024-01-19 | House | Referred from Public Safety (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-19 | House | Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (28)

- 2024-11-19: Left in Finance and Appropriations (Senate)
- 2024-02-29: Continued to 2025 in Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2024-02-26: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (Senate)
- 2024-02-26: Reported from Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2024-02-16: Impact statement from SCC (HB489H1) (House)
- 2024-02-14: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2024-02-14: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2024-02-13: VOTE: Block Vote Passage (99-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-02-13: Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-02-12: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB489H1 (House)
- 2024-02-12: Committee substitute agreed to 24107326D-H1 (House)
- 2024-02-12: Read second time (House)
- 2024-02-11: Read first time (House)
- 2024-02-09: Reported from Appropriations (20-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-02-09: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-02-09: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety (House)
- 2024-02-08: Referred to Committee on Appropriations (House)
- 2024-02-08: Committee substitute printed 24107326D-H1 (House)
- 2024-02-08: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-02-06: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations (House)
- 2024-02-06: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-02-06: House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered (House)
- 2024-01-24: Impact statement from SCC (HB489) (House)
- 2024-01-23: Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #1 (House)
- 2024-01-19: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-19: Referred from Public Safety (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-08: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2024-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103291D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-03-19: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB489)
- Substitute, 2024-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB489)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB489)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB489-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).