Wildfire Funding Amendments

Merges several existing funds into a single Utah Wildfire Fund to simplify administration and management.

Appropriates $150,022,500 in restricted fund and account transfers for fiscal year 2026.

Updates the definition of 'declared disaster' to include specific criteria about risk to persons and property, frequency, and required declarations.

Adds detailed definition of 'emergency disaster services' including evacuation, shelter, medical triage, debris removal, and other emergency response activities.

Requires reporting on fund usage and authorizes rulemaking to address community wildfire preparedness plans.

Consolidates multiple wildfire funds into a single Utah Wildfire Fund with $150,022,500 appropriated for fiscal year 2026, replacing the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund and Wildland-urban Interface Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund.

Adds new definitions for 'wildfire costs' (suppression and rehabilitation) and 'wildfire prevention costs' (prevention, preparedness, mitigation efforts) to clarify what expenses are covered by the fund.

Requires the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to annually report fund balances, expenditures, and revenues to the Appropriations Subcommittee by October 31 each year starting fiscal year 2026.

Expands eligibility for state assistance to include private land in unincorporated areas when fire management authority is delegated to the state division.

Establishes new delegation of fire management authority process where the division becomes primary incident commander and may recover suppression costs from eligible entities.

Sets effective date of July 1, 2025, with coordination provisions for January 1, 2026, when the new fund names will replace old fund references in related legislation.

Creates a new Utah Wildfire Fund that consolidates money from the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund, Wildland-urban Interface Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund, and other sources into a single fund.

Establishes new funding thresholds and reporting requirements, including annual reports to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee by October 31 following each fiscal year.

Adds new definitions for 'delegation of fire management authority' and clarifies wildfire costs to include both suppression and rehabilitation efforts.

Requires eligible entities to implement community wildfire preparedness plans addressing wildland-urban interface and establishes criteria for these plans.

Authorizes the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to take action to recover costs upon delegation of fire management authority and establishes a process for delegating authority.

Sets the effective date for the bill as July 1, 2025, and includes a coordination clause for transition to the new fund structure on January 1, 2026.

Created a new Utah Wildfire Fund by merging the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund, Wildland Fire Preparedness Grants Fund, and Wildland-urban Interface Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund into one consolidated account.

Authorized $150,022,500 in restricted fund and account transfers for fiscal year 2026 to fund the new Utah Wildfire Fund.

Modified cooperative agreement requirements between counties and the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, including updated compliance standards and participation commitments.

Added new reporting requirements requiring the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to annually report fund balances, expenditures, and revenues to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee.

Updated definitions related to wildfire costs, prevention costs, and eligible entities to align with the new consolidated fund structure.

Added a coordination clause with H.B. 48 to address the transition to the Utah Wildfire Fund.

Consolidates multiple wildfire funds into a single Utah Wildfire Fund, merging the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund, Wildland-urban Interface Prevention Fund, and other related accounts.

Authorizes $150,022,500 in restricted fund transfers for fiscal year 2026 to support wildfire management activities.

Repeals several older wildfire-related statutes and funds, including the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund and Wildland-urban Interface Prevention Fund, to consolidate into the new Utah Wildfire Fund.

Updates reporting requirements to include annual reports on fund balances, expenditures, and revenues submitted to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee.

Modifies cooperative agreement requirements between counties and the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, including updated standards for fire training, equipment, and prevention efforts.

Updates definitions of terms such as 'wildfire,' 'wildland-urban interface,' and 'emergency disaster services' to better align with current wildfire management practices.

Establishes new delegation of fire management authority provisions, allowing the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to become the primary incident commander during wildfires.

Sets the effective date for most provisions as May 7, 2025, with an option for earlier effective date upon legislative override.