Committee backs creation of a wildland fire module with $500,000 for equipment and 12 positions
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Summary
HB36 would fund a wildland fire module — 12 positions including two full‑time and several temporary positions — plus $500,000 for vehicles and equipment; committee adopted a technical title amendment and advanced the bill 7‑0 after wide stakeholder support.
House Bill 36, which would create a Forestry Conservation Program wildland fire module, passed the committee after agency testimony and broad stakeholder backing.
State Forester Kelly Norris described the proposal: the module adds 12 positions to State Forestry — two full‑time (regional manager and suppression module leader), two nine‑month temporary full‑time positions and eight six‑month temporary full‑time positions — and requests $500,000 in one‑time funding for vehicles and equipment to be purchased in fiscal 2026. Norris said the module would support in‑state initial attack and hazardous fuels mitigation and that State Forestry expects to fill full‑time positions by the effective date (04/01/2026).
Norris provided data showing the state ordered 383 crews in the past two years, with most crews coming from out of state; she cited roughly $8 million to support out‑of‑state crews and about $10.8 million for crews and firefighting leadership. "It is very likely that over 90% of the crews that were ordered came from out of state," Norris said, and the module would improve in‑state response capability.
Representatives and multiple stakeholders — including Tri‑State Generation & Transmission, local fire chiefs, conservation districts and the Wyoming Fire Service — testified in support, stressing faster local response, better planning for utilities and hazardous fuels mitigation. A technical amendment to change the short title from 'program' to 'division' was adopted as friendly; HB36 passed on roll call 7‑0. Representative Harrelson will take the bill to the floor.
