Committee advances bill letting special fire and metro districts require vegetation removal, with due-process safeguards

House Bill 1009, a permissive measure that would give fire protection districts and metropolitan districts authority to adopt vegetative fuel mitigation programs on private property, moved out of the Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee after sponsors and stakeholders agreed several clarifying amendments.

The bill would allow districts that opt in to require removal of vegetative fuels such as dried grass, leaves and shrubs on private property, set a process for notice and appeal, and allow fines of up to $300 when property owners fail to comply. Representative Rose Morrow, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure is “permissive, meaning you have to opt in” and is meant to give local districts a tool to reduce wildfire spread.

Supporters said the statute includes procedural safeguards. “Property owners have the right to file objections with the district board,” Morrow said during the presentation. Co‑sponsor Representative Joseph added the bill would use…