Garden State Times

Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre are set to propose legislation aimed at exempting certain organizations from registration fees under New Jersey's "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act." The bill seeks to relieve volunteer fire companies, emergency service providers, and veteran organizations from the financial burden of these fees.

Currently, state law mandates that charitable organizations, excluding religious entities and schools, which raise over $10,000 annually must register with the state. This registration process includes a fee. The proposed legislation would eliminate this requirement for the specified groups.

In a joint statement, Amato, Rumpf, and Myhre emphasized the importance of these organizations: “Volunteer fire companies, emergency service providers, and veteran organizations provide invaluable services to the community. As such, these respected organizations should be exempt from paying a fee for their charitable activities."

They further argued that adjustments in the state budget could accommodate this change: “New Jersey’s state budget is $56.7 billion for the current fiscal year. Surely, spending cuts can be identified to compensate for the loss of revenue collected through charitable registration fees imposed on volunteer fire companies, emergency service providers, and veteran organizations."

The legislators also noted that removing these fees would serve as recognition of the vital roles played by these groups: “Exempting these organizations from this fee would also constitute a sign of respect and gratitude for not only their charitable activities but also the duties they perform on a volunteer basis.”