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Commission hears update on HB 41 after local meetings about risk maps
Summary
Commission members heard from Jack about problems created by recent wildfire‑risk mapping under HB 41 and earlier HP 48, saying the maps have placed some communities on high‑risk lists and affected property insurance; local fire and forestry partners are seeking changes from the bill sponsor.
The chair asked Jack to provide a legislative update and Jack said recent state mapping under HB 41 has put some local areas on high‑risk lists, affecting homeowners' insurance and county liability. "These maps have identified like Dutch John, which has been more or less fireproofed from the 2002 fire," Jack said, and he added that the maps' lack of local detail has led to insurance impacts for residents.
Jack said county staff and the local fire warden, Corey Auger, have worked with Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands and other state partners to highlight problems created when HP 48 was adopted and carried forward into this year's HP/HB 41 effort. He said the county has tried to engage the bill's proponent to seek technical fixes but so far has had limited success: "They haven't seemed to hear us yet in terms of the problems that it's created and that they've put on the county's accounts," Jack said.
The chair thanked Jack for the report and said the commission will continue to monitor contacts with the legislature. No formal action or vote on a position was taken during this segment; commissioners noted the need to coordinate with the county fire warden and state contacts to seek corrections or clarifications to mapping details.
What happens next: commissioners indicated they will continue outreach with state partners and share correspondence and technical materials from county staff and the fire warden as they pursue changes to the mapping process.
