STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Arizona House Republicans are taking decisive action to protect lives, property, and communities from the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires. As part of the 2025 House Majority Plan pillar on public safety, GOP lawmakers are advancing critical legislation to improve wildfire mitigation, clean unhealthy forests, and cut bureaucratic red tape to ensure homeowners are not left vulnerable.

“Public safety is more than law enforcement and border security – it means defending our communities from preventable disasters,” said Representative Lupe Diaz, Chairman of the House Committee on Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. “Arizona has seen what happens when wildfires are mismanaged in places like California. We refuse to let that happen here. Our plan prioritizes proactive fire mitigation efforts, responsible forest management, and ensuring that Arizonans are protected when disaster strikes.”

Arizona’s high country is facing severe drought conditions following record-low winter precipitation. With little to no rain or snowfall in December and January, the risk of devastating wildfires this summer is higher than ever. House Republicans are stepping up to ensure state and local officials are prepared to act before disaster strikes.

House Republican Wildfire Mitigation Proposals

House Republicans are moving forward with key legislative initiatives, including:

• HB2201 (Griffin): Requires utilities to develop and submit biennial Wildfire Mitigation Plans, which include clearing hazardous vegetation around power lines to prevent utility-caused wildfires.
• HB2219 (Marshall), HB2395, HB2398, HB2400 (Blackman), & HB2694 (Griffin): Allocates funding for fire contingency planning and wildland firefighting efforts in Arizona’s high-risk areas.
• HB2456 (Marshall): Establishes fire incident management grants to assist districts across the state.
• HB2577 (Griffin): Cuts red tape to give the State Forester more flexibility to protect communities.
• HB2639 (Griffin): Extends the “healthy forest” tax incentive to encourage responsible forest thinning and prevent catastrophic fires.

Despite recognizing that wildland fire costs have been “much higher in recent years” due to neglected forest maintenance, Governor Hobbs’ proposed budget offers zero new funding for hazardous vegetation removal or forest thinning. House Republicans are stepping in to fill this void with serious, proactive measures.

“Preventing wildfires means enacting responsible management before disaster strikes,” said Chairman Diaz. “We are working with state agencies, local officials, and private utilities to get boots on the ground, clear hazardous areas, and stop wildfires before they start. This is what leadership looks like, and it’s exactly what Arizonans expect from us.”

All funding proposals will move through the legislative process and undergo further review in the Appropriations Committee. House Republicans remain committed to delivering solutions that protect Arizona families, safeguard property, and ensure rural communities are not left behind.

Lupe Diaz is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 19 in Southeastern Arizona and is Chairman of the House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. Follow him on X at @LupeDiaz4AZ..