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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: LARA DPA 8-0-0-0 |
HB 2292: wildfire prevention authority; fund
Sponsor: Representative Blackman, LD 7
Caucus & COW
Overview
Creates the Wildfire Prevention Authority (Authority) and Wildfire Prevention Authority Fund (Fund) under the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM).
History
DFFM is tasked with land management and the prevention and suppression of wildland fires on state land and on private property located outside of municipalities. This is achieved through fostering, maintaining and enhancing collaboration with cooperators to promote the health and safety of Arizona's forests, providing leadership to wildfire response resources, ensuring fire safety in public buildings and encouraging fire-adapted communities (A.R.S. § 37-1301).
The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) regulates the insurance industry as well as financial institutions and enterprises by issuing licenses, conducting examinations and investigating consumer complaints. Duties of the Director of DIFI include performing examinations and investigations of insurance matters and establishing guidelines for insurers (A.R.S. § 20-142)(DIFI History).
Provisions
Wildfire Prevention Authority
1. Establishes the Authority, under DFFM, to:
a. review fire risk data and tools to identify areas at the greatest risk of damage;
b. review publicly available insurance data to identify areas that may be experiencing high levels of insurance policy non-renewals or premium increases due to wildfire related exposures;
c. provide grants to municipalities, counties, fire districts and nongovernmental organizations pursuant to fire risk data and publicly available insurance data and areas impacted by elevated wildfire risks for prescribed purposes; and
d. initiate an audit of the Fund. (Sec. 5)
2. Outlines members, term limits and meeting requirements of the Authority. (Sec. 5)
3. Grants the Authority to:
a. establish a plan of operation and a financial plan;
b. accept nonmonetary contributions required for the Authority's functions; and
c. solicit and accept gifts, grants and donations. (Sec. 5)
Wildfire Prevention Authority Fund
4. Establishes the Fund consisting of $20,000,000 per year from premium tax from fire insurers and any private and public monies received by the Authority. (Sec. 5)
5. Requires Fund monies, administered by the Authority, be used only to pay for administrative expenses and to make grant awards. (Sec. 5)
6. States that Fund monies are subject to legislative appropriations and exempt from lapsing. (Sec. 5)
7. Instructs the State Treasurer, on notice from the Authority, to invest and divest monies in the Fund. (Sec. 5)
8. Requires monies earned from the investment to be credited to the Fund. (Sec. 5)
9. States that all monies appropriated to DFFM for the Authority must be used by DFFM exclusively for the operation of the Authority. (Sec. 5)
10. States that monies appropriated from the Fund that are included in the General Appropriations Act must be included with the following separate line items:
a. the Authority's operating lump sum appropriation; and
b. any local grants. (Sec. 5)
11. Outlines audit requirements and procedures. (Sec. 5)
Miscellaneous
12. Requires, beginning in FY 2026 and each FY thereafter, that $20 million of the tax paid by an insurer on account of premiums received to be separately specified in the report and distributed to the Fund. (Sec. 1)
13. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-4)
Amendments
Committee on Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
1. Changes the name of the Fund to the Wildlife Mitigation and Risk Reduction Fund.
2. Changes the name of the Authority to the Wildlife Mitigation and Risk Reduction Authority.
3. Stipulates that monies distributed to the fund are subsequent to certain distributions.
4. Requires the Governor's appointees to the Wildlife Mitigation and Risk Reduction Authority to have adopted a wildland urban interface code.
5. Limits administrative expenses to not exceed 8% of available monies in the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Fund.
6. Provides preference to certain single family and multi family dwelling properties for funding awards.
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Initials CW/HC HB 2292
2/16/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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