Eliminating barriers for volunteer drivers so they can better support older adults
The Volunteer Driver Coalition is working to protect the viability of volunteer driver programs in Minnesota.
The coalition supported the successful passage of new laws in the 2021 Legislative Session:
- Clearly defined a volunteer driver in law as not “for-hire.”
- Created a state income tax subtraction for volunteer drivers to reduce their tax liability in Minnesota.
The coalition has turned its attention to federal legislation.
Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN-8) introduced the Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2023 on April 28 in the U.S. House of Representatives to add the measure to federal law. Co-sponsors include: U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ted Budd (R-NC) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced a companion bill in the Senate on October 4.
Our goal: Pass the federal Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2023 to raise the amount of mileage reimbursement that volunteers can claim as exempt from federal taxes from 14 cents per mile to 67 cents per mile (equal to the business rate as of January 1, 2024).
More than 80 organizations, including nonprofits, governmental entities and businesses, comprise the coalition. Jason Swanson, president of the Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Dawn Simonson, president and CEO, Trellis; Sherry Munyon, lobbyist, Minnesota Public Transit Association; and Beverly Sidlo-Tolliver, senior planner, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission-Arrowhead RTC co-lead the coalition.