FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2025

CONTACT: Nick VaVerka, (916) 651-4614 [email protected]

Senator Alvarado-Gil advances tax relief bills boosting food security and fire response

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Today, two tax relief bills authored by Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) passed out of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee with unanimous bipartisan support. Senate Bill 353 (SB 353) and Senate Bill 696 (SB 696) are aimed at supporting rural and Central Valley communities by easing financial burdens on farmers and fire departments.

SB 353 would make permanent California’s Farm to Food Bank Tax Credit, which provides a 15% tax incentive to farmers who donate fresh produce and other agricultural products to local food banks. The credit is currently set to expire in 2027.
SB 696 would exempt fire departments, volunteer departments, and fire protection districts from paying sales and use tax on firefighting equipment, including trucks, protective gear, and specialized tools. The exemption would apply to purchases starting January 1, 2026, and sunset in 2031.

“Both of these bills offer practical, targeted tax relief to frontline service providers — our farmers and our firefighters,” said Senator Alvarado-Gil. “As California’s rising cost of living continues to strain rural and Central Valley families, this relief will directly support those who serve and feed our most vulnerable. By easing their financial burden, we’re making it easier for families to access healthy food and for firefighters to protect lives and property.”

Both bills address rising costs in essential sectors and help preserve access to basic needs in underserved communities. The Farm to Food Bank Tax Credit has helped get millions of pounds of fresh, healthy food to food banks across the state, while offsetting costs for farmers who donate unsellable yet high-quality crops. By making the credit permanent, SB 353 would provide long-term certainty for food banks and small growers alike. Meanwhile, fire departments — particularly those in rural or volunteer-based districts — face steep costs for critical gear, from fire engines to rescue equipment. SB 696 reduces the financial burden on these departments, ensuring more public dollars go to frontline readiness, not taxes.

SB 353 and SB 696 will now be considered in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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