STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX –The Arizona House of Representatives has passed three critical measures sponsored by State Representative Selina Bliss, aimed at ensuring accountability and environmental responsibility when dealing with hazardous and abandoned mine sites. HB2127, HB2128, and HCM2007 are a direct response to a troubling situation in Yavapai County involving the Senator Mine, where a Chinese-owned company abandoned its operations after causing widespread public safety risks. The company refused to cooperate with state officials, leaving local and state agencies to deal with the environmental consequences.

“We cannot allow foreign entities and bad actors to exploit our natural resources, and violate our laws, only to skip town while Arizonans are left holding the bag,” Representative Bliss said. “These bills ensure that Arizona communities aren’t left vulnerable to environmental hazards, while also giving good actors an opportunity to earn support in our local communities. I’m proud to see them pass the House, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to support them.”

HB2127 establishes clear notification requirements when regulated entities seek to sell their contaminated properties to third parties in order to avoid pending litigation, ensuring that buyers, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and the State Mine Inspector are aware of the potential sale.

HB2128 expands Arizona’s existing Prospective Purchaser Agreement program to allow responsible third parties—such as environmental organizations and reputable mining companies—to clean up contaminated sites without being held liable for the damage caused by previous bad actors.

HCM2007 is a legislative memorial that urges state officials to take advantage of the newly established Good Samaritan Act, created under federal law. The program works in tandem with HB2128 to enable nonprofit groups and private entities to clean up abandoned mines without facing regulatory roadblocks.

“Right now, there are groups willing to step up and help clean Arizona’s environmental messes, but they’re afraid of being saddled with liability for problems they didn’t cause,” Representative Bliss explained. “These measures fix that. They open the door for more voluntary remediation, allowing experts to restore these sites without fear of legal repercussions. This is a win for Arizona’s environment and our economy.”

For more information on this bill package, a fact sheet is attached.

Selina Bliss is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 1 in Yavapai County and Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. Follow her on X at @SelinaBliss.