House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee of Reference
Key Moments
HB2292 — HB 2292 is listed in the order of bills.
HB2292 — Witnesses strongly support HB 2292, which would establish Arizona’s Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Authority. The bill is described as a proactive, coordinated, data-driven approach to reducing wildfire risk, prioritizing community hardening and mitigation projects, and funding the effort through a dedicated $20 million annual allocation from insurance premium taxes. Speakers frame it as an investment in prevention over disaster and partnership over fragmentation, and repeatedly urge a yes vote.
HB2334 — HB 2334 will be held.
HB2845 — HB 2845 will be held.
HCM2011 — HCM 2011 will be heard.
HB2013 — Likely a garbled reference to the bill being discussed.
HB2013 — House Bill 2013 is presented for committee action with a motion to return it with a due pass recommendation. The sponsor explains that the bill requires the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to submit an exceptional event demonstration to the EPA when wildfire events on federally managed land affect the state, emphasizing that the bill specifically targets wildfire-related exceptional events. The discussion concludes with the final motion, the vote, and the announcement that HB 2013 received a due pass recommendation.
Sandy Barr — Sandy Barr is introduced and then begins testifying as the director of Sierra Club's Green Canyon chapter (Arizona chapter), stating opposition to House Bill 2013.
Sandy Barr — Sandy Barr, director of Sierra Club's Green Canyon Chapter, testified in opposition to the memorial. He argued that Mexican wolves are still back on the land but not yet recovered, and warned that delisting them prematurely would likely cause their numbers to decline again. He urged the committee to oppose the memorial.
Lori Reiner — Introduced as the next speaker for the bill, though the transcript does not clearly capture her testimony here.
Matt Rappentrop — With the Department of Environmental Quality; states the agency is neutral and available for questions.
HB2292 — House Bill 2292 is introduced and moved for a due pass recommendation. The discussion explains that the bill creates the Wildfire Prevention Authority and its fund within the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, sets rules for monies distributed to the fund, and limits administrative expenses to no more than 8% of available funds. An amendment is considered and adopted as part of the bill, and the chair summarizes that the measure is intended to provide funding and relief for residents after wildfires.
HB2292 — House Bill 2292 is discussed as being funded by redirecting existing insurance premium tax revenues to the general fund and then to the authority, rather than creating a new tax. After clarifying that the funding comes from an existing tax, a motion is made to return the amended bill with a due pass recommendation. The sequence concludes with the committee voting eight ayes to give House Bill 2292, as amended, a due pass recommendation.
HB2268 — Referenced as a similar proposal considered last year that did not pass.
Harrison — Harrison presented House Concurrent Memorial 2011, explaining that it urges the United States Congress to pass House Resolution 4255, and then concluded the presentation by offering to answer questions from members.