One bill that has been led by an Iowa lawmaker continues its path this legislative session.

House District 47 Representative Phil Thompson of Jefferson says the Emergency Medical Services bill passed the full House earlier this session and is currently in the Senate State Government Committee. Thompson says the goal of the legislation is to make it easier for local governments to make EMS an essential service, like fire and police departments. 

“So that they can levy for it and raise appropriate funds in order to fund their EMS program. So they have the equipment necessary to show up to a lot of these calls. We’re seeing this as more of a problem in the rural pockets of Iowa. They just don’t have the resources to go out and take these calls.”

Thompson points out the bill removes the sunset on the amount of years local governments can levy for equipment and funding to train and pay emergency medical technicians (EMTs).  He adds the bill not only needs to pass the state government committee in the Senate, but also the ways and means committee before the full Senate can vote on it. He is hopeful that this bill is signed into law, as last year, the legislation died in the Senate after the House passed it.