House backs SB 122 to expand state help for communities facing catastrophic wildfires

The Utah House unanimously passed third substitute Senate Bill 122 on March 9 after the floor sponsor described the measure as a significant change in how the state helps communities fight catastrophic wildfires.

Representative Briscoe told colleagues the main material change in the third substitute was language transferring money to satisfy the legislative fiscal analyst and produce a zero fiscal note. The bill expands eligibility for cooperative agreements so that not just county legislative bodies but cities can enter agreements with the state division of forestry and fire or state lands to receive financial cooperation and suppression assistance in specified catastrophic wildfire events. Under the bill, eligible entities that adopt required prevention, preparedness and mitigation measures could have suppression costs assumed by the state; entities without cooperative agreements would be responsible for suppression costs on their lands.

Briscoe and other supporters framed the change as a shift toward local management and prevention: communities would invest in mitigation and preparedness and the state would step in when agreements were in place. Representative Christofferson and others spoke in support of the measure. The House passed the third substitute 67‑0 and returned the bill to the Senate for further consideration.

The bill’s provisions emphasize local responsibility for prevention and preparedness as a condition for state suppression assistance and create incentives for cooperative agreements between cities, counties and state agencies.