Committee advances Game and Fish publications cap increase and hears camping amendment concerns

The Arizona House Committee on Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs voted to return Senate Bill 1211 with a do-pass recommendation after debate over an amendment that would modify the unlawful camping statute near water sources.

Senate Bill 1211 would raise the amount that must remain in the Game and Fish publications revolving fund before excess monies revert to the Arizona Game and Fish Fund from $80,000 to $250,000. The committee also heard and discussed the Griffin Amendment (dated 03/10/2025), which would clarify that it is unlawful to camp within one-quarter mile of a natural water hole or a man-made watering facility when such camping would deny wildlife or domestic stock access to water. The committee recorded a final tally of 5 ayes, 3 nays and 1 absent on the bill and amendment as presented.

David Fernandez, legislative affairs for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, told the committee the cap set at $80,000 dated from February of an earlier year and no longer reflected current magazine expenses and subscription revenue. “Our magazine is actually even more successful than it was previously, and all of the subscriber fees go into this fund. So we're more readily reaching this cap, which is why we asked to increase it to $250,000,” Fernandez said.

Representative Griffin, sponsor of the amendment, said she introduced the language to address enforcement gaps and a set of district concerns, including crop damage in Saint David and wolf depredation in Cochise and Greenlee counties. Griffin said she has agreed to meet with Game and Fish to discuss potential fixes and that the amendment was added to provide clarification for enforcement.

Patrick Braeb, representing the Arizona Farm and Ranch Group, supported the amendment language and urged clearer enforcement. “We appreciate Representative Griffin bringing those issues forward,” Braeb said, and said some landowners are seeing repeated crop damage and problematic camping near water that can deny wildlife access and cause conflicts.

Several committee members questioned how the amendment would affect developed recreation sites. One member noted many campsites are intentionally sited near water for recreation and expressed concern the amendment could restrict use of developed sites such as Fossil Creek and reduce local recreation revenue. Committee staff clarified that the existing statute already makes it unlawful to camp within one-quarter mile of certain water sources in places that would deny access. The Griffin Amendment was described during the hearing as being offered for discussion.

After public and agency testimony and member discussion the committee moved the bill forward with a do-pass recommendation. Committee staff presented the amendment as for discussion and the sponsor said she would continue consultation with stakeholders before further action.