Proposed Legislation Aims to Revitalize Wildfire Mitigation Strategies

By Daniel Stefanski |

A coalition of Arizona lawmakers is moving forward with initiatives aimed at enhancing the state’s wildfire mitigation strategies. This week, State Representative Lupe Diaz, who chairs the House Committee on Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs, shared updates on legislative progress designed to safeguard communities against the increasing risks posed by catastrophic wildfires.

The proposed legislation includes several significant bills:

• HB 2201: Sponsored by Representative Griffin, this bill mandates that utilities create and submit biennial Wildfire Mitigation Plans. These plans require utilities to clear hazardous vegetation around power lines to help prevent wildfires caused by utility operations.
• HB 2219: Introduced by Representative Marshall, along with associated bills HB 2395, HB 2398, and HB 2400 from Representative Blackman, and HB 2694 from Representative Griffin, these bills allocate funds for fire contingency planning and firefighting efforts targeted at Arizona’s high-risk areas.
• HB 2456: Sponsored by Representative Marshall, this proposal establishes grants for fire incident management to assist districts throughout the state.
• HB 2577: Proposed by Representative Griffin, this bill aims to reduce bureaucratic obstacles for the State Forester, granting greater flexibility in community protection efforts.
• HB 2639: Also from Representative Griffin, this legislation seeks to expand the “healthy forest” tax incentive, encouraging responsible forest management practices to avert catastrophic fires.

In his statement, Representative Diaz emphasized the importance of public safety beyond traditional law enforcement. “Defending our communities from preventable disasters is crucial. Arizona has already witnessed the consequences of poor wildfire management in other states,” he remarked. “We are determined to prioritize proactive fire mitigation, responsible forest management, and the protection of Arizonans.”

Diaz further asserted that effective wildfire prevention requires action before disasters occur. He stressed ongoing collaboration with state agencies, local officials, and utility companies to mitigate risks and actively clear hazardous areas. “This is leadership, and it is what Arizonans expect from their representatives,” he added.

Notably, during her recent State of the State address, Governor Katie Hobbs did not outline any wildfire mitigation strategies. Chairman Diaz’s release pointed out that the governor’s proposed budget lacks funding for hazardous vegetation removal or forest thinning, despite acknowledging that the costs associated with wildfires have escalated due to inadequate forest maintenance in recent years.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.