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.
Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN-8) introduced the Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2025 (H.R. 1582) together with co-sponsor Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-2). Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI-1), Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN-1), Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-7), Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI-2), Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN-3), Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-3) and Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA-7) have also signed on as co-sponsors. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ted Budd (R-NC) are co-sponsors of the Senate companion bill (S. 1177).
The bill raises the federal reimbursement rate for volunteer drivers to match the rate set by the IRS for business mileage (70 cents per mile).
Download the latest Call to Action.
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.
Volunteers provide a valuable service, contributing their time and knowledge. They should receive the same financial benefit for mileage costs as business drivers.
Our goal: Pass the federal Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2025 to raise the amount of mileage reimbursement that volunteers can claim as exempt from federal taxes from 14 cents per mile to 70 cents per mile (equal to the business rate).
More than 80 organizations, including nonprofits, governmental entities and businesses, comprise the coalition. Scott Bogren, Community Transportation Association of America; Jason Swanson, 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.