Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 307 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Snider, Casey

Final action

Governor Signed 3/24/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• merges several funds into the Utah Wildfire Fund (fund);
• modifies references to the funds merged into the fund;
• amends definition provisions;
• addresses delegation of fire management authority;
• addresses elements of the fund such as what is deposited into the fund and how money in the fund is used;
• requires reporting;
• authorizes rulemaking;
• moves provisions related to community wildfire preparedness plans addressing wildland-urban interface;
• includes a coordination clause with H.B. 48 to address the transition to the Utah Wildfire Fund; and
• makes technical and conforming amendments.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

65
53-2a-602
53-2a-603
59-21-2
63J-1-314
63J-1-315
63J-3-103
63N-3-106
65A-1-1
65A-8-203
65A-8-203.1
65A-8-204
65A-8-206
65A-8-207
65A-8-213
65A-8-215
65A-8-216
65A-8a-102
0
Wildfire Funding Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Casey Snider
Senate Sponsor: Michael K. McKell
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses wildfires.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
merges several funds into the Utah Wildfire Fund (fund);
modifies references to the funds merged into the fund;
amends definition provisions;
addresses delegation of fire management authority;
addresses elements of the fund such as what is deposited into the fund and how money in 
the fund is used;
requires reporting;
authorizes rulemaking; 
moves provisions related to community wildfire preparedness plans addressing 
wildland-urban interface; 
includes a coordination clause with H.B. 48 to address the transition to the Utah Wildfire 
Fund; and
makes technical and conforming amendments.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates 
$150,022,500
 in expendable funds and accounts for fiscal year 2026, 
all of which is from the various sources as detailed in this bill.
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
This bill provides a coordination clause.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53-2a-602
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 16
53-2a-603
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 434, 534
59-21-2
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 88
63J-1-314
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 153, 434
63J-1-315
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapters 77, 439
63J-3-103
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 77
63N-3-106
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapters 77, 159
65A-1-1
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 80
65A-8-203
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 77
65A-8-203.1
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 174
65A-8a-102
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 40
ENACTS:
65A-8-216
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
REPEALS:
65A-8-204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 153
65A-8-206
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 174
65A-8-207
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 174
65A-8-213
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 153
65A-8-215
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 77
Utah Code Sections Affected by Coordination Clause:
AMENDS:
65A-8-216
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53-2a-602
 is amended to read:
53-2a-602
. Definitions.
(1)
Unless otherwise defined in this section, the terms that are used in this part mean the 
same as those terms are defined in 
Part 1, Emergency Management Act
.
(2)
As used in this part:
(a)
"Agent of the state" means any representative of a state agency, local agency, or 
non-profit entity that agrees to provide support to a requesting intrastate or interstate 
government entity that has declared an emergency or disaster and has requested 
assistance through the division.
(b)
"Declared disaster" means one or more events:
(i)
within the state;
(ii)
that occur within a limited period of time;
(iii)
that involve:
(A)
a significant number of persons being at risk of bodily harm, sickness, or 
death; or
(B)
a significant portion of real property at risk of loss;
(iv)
that are sudden in nature and generally occur less frequently than every three 
years; and
(v)
that results in:
(A)
the president of the United States declaring an emergency or major disaster in 
the state;
(B)
the governor declaring a state of emergency under 
Part 2 Disaster Response 
and Recovery Act
; or
(C)
the chief executive officer of a local government declaring a local emergency 
under 
Part 2, Disaster Response and Recovery Act
.
(c)
"Disaster recovery account" means the State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account 
created in Section 
53-2a-603
.
(d)
(i)
"Emergency disaster services" means:
(A)
evacuation;
(B)
shelter;
(C)
medical triage;
(D)
emergency transportation;
(E)
repair of infrastructure;
(F)
safety services, including fencing or roadblocks;
(G)
sandbagging;
(H)
debris removal;
(I)
temporary bridges;
(J)
procurement and distribution of food, water, or ice;
(K)
procurement and deployment of generators;
(L)
rescue or recovery;
(M)
emergency protective measures; or
(N)
services similar to those described in Subsections 
(2)(d)(i)(A)
 through 
(M)
, as 
defined by the division by rule, that are generally required in response to a 
declared disaster.
(ii)
"Emergency disaster services" does not include:
(A)
emergency preparedness; or
(B)
notwithstanding whether 
or not 
a county participates in the 
Wildland Fire 
Suppression Fund created in Section 
65A-8-204
Utah Wildfire Fund created in 
Section 
65A-8-216
, any fire suppression or presuppression costs that may be 
paid for from the 
Wildland Fire Suppression
Utah Wildfire
 Fund if the county 
participates in the 
Wildland Fire Suppression
Utah Wildfire
 Fund.
(e)
"Emergency preparedness" means the following done for the purpose of being 
prepared for an emergency as defined by the division by rule made in accordance 
with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act
:
(i)
the purchase of equipment;
(ii)
the training of personnel; or
(iii)
the obtaining of a certification.
(f)
"Governing body" means:
(i)
for a county, city, or town, the legislative body of the county, city, or town;
(ii)
for a special district, the board of trustees of the special district; and
(iii)
for a special service district:
(A)
the legislative body of the county, city, or town that established the special 
service district, if no administrative control board has been appointed under 
Section 
17D-1-301
; or
(B)
the administrative control board of the special service district, if an 
administrative control board has been appointed under Section 
17D-1-301
.
(g)
"Local fund" means a local government disaster fund created in accordance with 
Section 
53-2a-605
.
(h)
"Local government" means:
(i)
a county;
(ii)
a city or town; or
(iii)
a special district or special service district that:
(A)
operates a water system;
(B)
provides transportation service;
(C)
provides, operates, and maintains correctional and rehabilitative facilities and 
programs for municipal, state, and other detainees and prisoners;
(D)
provides consolidated 911 and emergency dispatch service;
(E)
operates an airport; or
(F)
operates a sewage system.
(i)
"Special district" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
17B-1-102
.
(j)
"Special fund" means a fund other than a general fund of a local government that is 
created for a special purpose established under the uniform system of budgeting, 
accounting, and reporting.
(k)
"Special service district" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
17D-1-102
.
(l)
"State's prime interest rate" means the average interest rate paid by the state on 
general obligation bonds issued during the most recent fiscal year in which bonds 
were sold.
Section 2, Section 
53-2a-603
 is amended to read:
53-2a-603
. State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account.
(1)
(a)
There is created a restricted account in the General Fund known as the "State 
Disaster Recovery Restricted Account."
(b)
The disaster recovery account consists of:
(i)
money deposited into the disaster recovery account in accordance with Section 
63J-1-314
;
(ii)
money appropriated to the disaster recovery account by the Legislature; and
(iii)
any other public or private money received by the division that is:
(A)
given to the division for purposes consistent with this section; and
(B)
deposited into the disaster recovery account at the request of:
(I)
the division; or
(II)
the person or entity giving the money.
(c)
The Division of Finance shall deposit interest or other earnings derived from 
investment of account money into the General Fund.
(2)
Money in the disaster recovery account may only be expended or committed to be 
expended as follows:
(a)
(i)
subject to Section 
53-2a-606
, in any fiscal year the division may expend or 
commit to expend an amount that does not exceed $500,000, in accordance with 
Section 
53-2a-604
, to fund costs to the state of emergency disaster services in 
response to a declared disaster;
(ii)
subject to Section 
53-2a-606
, in any fiscal year the division may expend or 
commit to expend an amount that exceeds $500,000, but does not exceed 
$3,000,000, in accordance with Section 
53-2a-604
, to fund costs to the state of 
emergency disaster services in response to a declared disaster if the division:
(A)
before making the expenditure or commitment to expend, obtains approval for 
the expenditure or commitment to expend from the governor;
(B)
subject to Subsection 
(5)
, provides written notice of the expenditure or 
commitment to expend to the speaker of the House of Representatives, the 
president of the Senate, the Division of Finance, the Executive Offices and 
Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the Legislative Management 
Committee, and the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst no later than 72 
hours after making the expenditure or commitment to expend; and
(C)
makes the report required by Subsection 
53-2a-606(2)
;
(iii)
subject to Section 
53-2a-606
, in any fiscal year the division may expend or 
commit to expend an amount that exceeds $3,000,000, but does not exceed 
$5,000,000, in accordance with Section 
53-2a-604
, to fund costs to the state of 
emergency disaster services in response to a declared disaster if, before making 
the expenditure or commitment to expend, the division:
(A)
obtains approval for the expenditure or commitment to expend from the 
governor; and
(B)
submits the expenditure or commitment to expend to the Executive 
Appropriations Committee in accordance with Subsection 
53-2a-606(3)
;
(iv)
in any fiscal year the division may expend or commit to expend an amount that 
does not exceed $500,000 to fund expenses incurred by the National Guard if:
(A)
in accordance with Section 
39A-3-103
, the governor orders into active service 
the National Guard in response to a declared disaster; and
(B)
the money is not used for expenses that qualify for payment as emergency 
disaster services; and
(v)
in any fiscal year, the division may expend an amount that does not exceed 
$750,000 to fund expenses incurred to develop or enhance emergency 
management capabilities if:
(A)
the money is used for personnel, equipment, supplies, contracts, training, 
exercises, or other expenses deemed reasonable and necessary to:
(I)
promote and strengthen the state's level of resiliency through mitigation, 
preparedness, response, or recovery activities; or
(II)
meet federal grant matching requirements; and
(B)
the disaster recovery account has a balance of funds available to be utilized 
while maintaining a minimum balance of $5,000,000;
(b)
money not described in Subsections 
(2)(a)(i)
, 
(ii)
, and 
(iii)
 may be expended or 
committed to be expended to fund costs to the state directly related to a declared 
disaster that are not costs related to:
(i)
emergency disaster services;
(ii)
emergency preparedness; or
(iii)
notwithstanding whether a county participates in the 
Wildland Fire Suppression 
Fund created in Section 
65A-8-204
Utah Wildfire Fund created in Section 
65A-8-216
, any fire suppression or presuppression costs that may be paid for from 
the 
Wildland Fire Suppression
Utah Wildfire
 Fund if the county participates in 
the 
Wildland Fire Suppression
Utah Wildfire
 Fund;
(c)
to fund:
(i)
the Local Government Emergency Response Loan Fund created in Section 
53-2a-607
; and
(ii)
the Response, Recovery, and Post-disaster Mitigation Restricted Account created 
in Section 
53-2a-1302
;
(d)
the division may provide advanced funding from the disaster recovery account to 
recognized agents of the state when:
(i)
Utah has agreed, through the division, to enact the Emergency Management 
Assistance Compact with another member state that has requested assistance 
during a declared disaster;
(ii)
Utah agrees to provide resources to the requesting member state;
(iii)
the agent of the state who represents the requested resource has no other funding 
source available at the time of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact 
request; and
(iv)
the disaster recovery account has a balance of funds available to be utilized while 
maintaining a minimum balance of $5,000,000;
(e)
to fund up to $500,000 for the governor's emergency appropriations described in 
Subsection 
63J-1-217(4)
; and
(f)
to pay the state's deductible in the event of an earthquake.
(3)
All funding provided in advance to an agent of the state and subsequently reimbursed 
shall be credited to the account.
(4)
The state treasurer shall invest money in the disaster recovery account according to 
Title 
51, Chapter 7, State Money Management Act
.
(5)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsections 
(1)
 and 
(2)
, the money in the disaster recovery 
account may not be diverted, appropriated, expended, or committed to be expended 
for a purpose that is not listed in this section.
(b)
Notwithstanding Section 
63J-1-410
, the Legislature may not appropriate money from 
the disaster recovery account to eliminate or otherwise reduce an operating deficit if 
the money appropriated from the disaster recovery account is expended or committed 
to be expended for a purpose other than one listed in this section.
(c)
The Legislature may not amend the purposes for which money in the disaster 
recovery account may be expended or committed to be expended except by the 
affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house.
(6)
The division:
(a)
shall provide the notice required by Subsection 
(2)(a)(ii)
 using the best available 
method under the circumstances as determined by the division; and
(b)
may provide the notice required by Subsection 
(2)(a)(ii)
 in electronic format.
Section 3, Section 
59-21-2
 is amended to read:
59-21-2
. Mineral Bonus Account created -- Contents -- Use of Mineral Bonus 
Account money -- Mineral Lease Account created -- Contents -- Appropriation of money 
from Mineral Lease Account.
(1)
(a)
There is created a restricted account within the General Fund known as the 
"Mineral Bonus Account."
(b)
The Mineral Bonus Account consists of federal mineral lease bonus payments 
deposited pursuant to Subsection 
59-21-1
(3).
(c)
The Legislature shall make appropriations from the Mineral Bonus Account in 
accordance with Section 35 of the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920, 30 U.S.C. 
Sec. 191.
(d)
The state treasurer shall:
(i)
invest the money in the Mineral Bonus Account by following the procedures and 
requirements of Title 51, Chapter 7, State Money Management Act; and
(ii)
deposit all interest or other earnings derived from the account into the Mineral 
Bonus Account.
(e)
The Division of Finance shall, beginning on July 1, 2017, annually deposit 30% of 
mineral lease bonus payments deposited under Subsection (1)(b) from the previous 
fiscal year into the 
Wildland Fire Suppression Fund created in Section 
65A-8-204
Utah Wildfire Fund created in Section 
65A-8-216
, up to $2,000,000 but not to exceed 
20% of the amount expended in the previous fiscal year from the 
Wildland Fire 
Suppression
Utah Wildfire
 Fund.
(2)
(a)
There is created a restricted account within the General Fund known as the 
"Mineral Lease Account."
(b)
The Mineral Lease Account consists of federal mineral lease money deposited 
pursuant to Subsection 
59-21-1
(1).
(c)
The Legislature shall make appropriations from the Mineral Lease Account as 
provided in Subsection 
59-21-1
(1) and this Subsection (2).
(d)
The Legislature shall annually appropriate 32.5% of all deposits made to the Mineral 
Lease Account to the Permanent Community Impact Fund established by Section 
35A-8-303
.
(e)
The Legislature shall annually appropriate 2.25% of all deposits made to the Mineral 
Lease Account to the State Board of Education, to be used for education research and 
experimentation in the use of staff and facilities designed to improve the quality of 
education in Utah.
(f)
The Legislature shall annually appropriate 2.25% of all deposits made to the Mineral 
Lease Account to the Utah Geological Survey Restricted Account, created in Section 
79-3-403
, to be used by the Utah Geological Survey for activities carried on by the 
Utah Geological Survey having as a purpose the development and exploitation of 
natural resources in the state.
(g)
The Legislature shall annually appropriate 2.25% of all deposits made to the Mineral 
Lease Account to the Water Research Laboratory at Utah State University, to be used 
for activities carried on by the laboratory having as a purpose the development and 
exploitation of water resources in the state.
(h)
(i)
The Legislature shall annually appropriate to the Division of Finance 40% of 
all deposits made to the Mineral Lease Account to be distributed as provided in 
Subsection (2)(h)(ii) to:
(A)
counties;
(B)
special service districts established:
(I)
by counties;
(II)
under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act; and
(III)
for the purpose of constructing, repairing, or maintaining roads; or
(C)
special service districts established:
(I)
by counties;
(II)
under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act; and
(III)
for other purposes authorized by statute.
(ii)
The Division of Finance shall allocate the funds specified in Subsection (2)(h)(i):
(A)
in amounts proportionate to the amount of mineral lease money generated by 
each county; and
(B)
to a county or special service district established by a county under Title 17D, 
Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, as determined by the county legislative 
body.
(i)
(i)
The Legislature shall annually appropriate 5% of all deposits made to the 
Mineral Lease Account to the Department of Workforce Services to be distributed 
to:
(A)
special service districts established:
(I)
by counties;
(II)
under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act; and
(III)
for the purpose of constructing, repairing, or maintaining roads; or
(B)
special service districts established:
(I)
by counties;
(II)
under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act; and
(III)
for other purposes authorized by statute.
(ii)
The Department of Workforce Services may distribute the amounts described in 
Subsection (2)(i)(i) only to special service districts established under Title 17D, 
Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, by counties:
(A)
of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class;
(B)
in which 4.5% or less of the mineral lease money within the state is generated; 
and
(C)
that are significantly socially or economically impacted as provided in 
Subsection (2)(i)(iii) by the development of minerals under the Mineral Lands 
Leasing Act, 30 U.S.C. Sec. 181 et seq.
(iii)
The significant social or economic impact required under Subsection (2)(i)(ii)(C) 
shall be as a result of:
(A)
the transportation within the county of hydrocarbons, including solid 
hydrocarbons as defined in Section 
59-5-101
;
(B)
the employment of persons residing within the county in hydrocarbon 
extraction, including the extraction of solid hydrocarbons as defined in Section 
59-5-101
; or
(C)
a combination of Subsections (2)(i)(iii)(A) and (B).
(iv)
For purposes of distributing the appropriations under this Subsection (2)(i) to 
special service districts established by counties under Title 17D, Chapter 1, 
Special Service District Act, the Department of Workforce Services shall:
(A)
(I)
allocate 50% of the appropriations equally among the counties meeting 
the requirements of Subsections (2)(i)(ii) and (iii); and
(II)
allocate 50% of the appropriations based on the ratio that the population of 
each county meeting the requirements of Subsections (2)(i)(ii) and (iii) 
bears to the total population of all of the counties meeting the requirements 
of Subsections (2)(i)(ii) and (iii); and
(B)
after making the allocations described in Subsection (2)(i)(iv)(A), distribute 
the allocated revenues to special service districts established by the counties 
under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, as determined by the 
executive director of the Department of Workforce Services after consulting 
with the county legislative bodies of the counties meeting the requirements of 
Subsections (2)(i)(ii) and (iii).
(v)
The executive director of the Department of Workforce Services:
(A)
shall determine whether a county meets the requirements of Subsections 
(2)(i)(ii) and (iii);
(B)
shall distribute the appropriations under Subsection (2)(i)(i) to special service 
districts established by counties under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service 
District Act, that meet the requirements of Subsections (2)(i)(ii) and (iii); and
(C)
in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, 
may make rules:
(I)
providing a procedure for making the distributions under this Subsection 
(2)(i) to special service districts; and
(II)
defining the term "population" for purposes of Subsection (2)(i)(iv).
(j)
(i)
The Legislature shall annually make the following appropriations from the 
Mineral Lease Account:
(A)
an amount equal to 52 cents multiplied by the number of acres of school or 
institutional trust lands, lands owned by the Division of State Parks or the 
Division of Outdoor Recreation, and lands owned by the Division of Wildlife 
Resources that are not under an in lieu of taxes contract, to each county in 
which those lands are located;
(B)
to each county in which school or institutional trust lands are transferred to the 
federal government after December 31, 1992, an amount equal to the number 
of transferred acres in the county multiplied by a payment per acre equal to the 
difference between 52 cents per acre and the per acre payment made to that 
county in the most recent payment under the federal payment in lieu of taxes 
program, 31 U.S.C. Sec. 6901 et seq., unless the federal payment was equal to 
or exceeded the 52 cents per acre, in which case a payment under this 
Subsection (2)(j)(i)(B) may not be made for the transferred lands;
(C)
to each county in which federal lands, which are entitlement lands under the 
federal in lieu of taxes program, are transferred to the school or institutional 
trust, an amount equal to the number of transferred acres in the county 
multiplied by a payment per acre equal to the difference between the most 
recent per acre payment made under the federal payment in lieu of taxes 
program and 52 cents per acre, unless the federal payment was equal to or less 
than 52 cents per acre, in which case a payment under this Subsection 
(2)(j)(i)(C) may not be made for the transferred land; and
(D)
to a county of the fifth or sixth class, an amount equal to the product of:
(I)
$1,000; and
(II)
the number of residences described in Subsection (2)(j)(iv) that are located 
within the county.
(ii)
A county receiving money under Subsection (2)(j)(i) may, as determined by the 
county legislative body, distribute the money or a portion of the money to:
(A)
special service districts established by the county under Title 17D, Chapter 1, 
Special Service District Act;
(B)
school districts; or
(C)
public institutions of higher education.
(iii)
(A)
Beginning in fiscal year 1994-95 and in each year after fiscal year 
1994-95, the Division of Finance shall increase or decrease the amounts per 
acre provided for in Subsections (2)(j)(i)(A) through (C) by the average annual 
change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the 
Department of Labor.
(B)
For fiscal years beginning on or after fiscal year 2001-02, the Division of 
Finance shall increase or decrease the amount described in Subsection 
(2)(j)(i)(D)(I) by the average annual change in the Consumer Price Index for 
all urban consumers published by the Department of Labor.
(iv)
Residences for purposes of Subsection (2)(j)(i)(D)(II) are residences that are:
(A)
owned by:
(I)
the Division of State Parks;
(II)
the Division of Outdoor Recreation; or
(III)
the Division of Wildlife Resources;
(B)
located on lands that are owned by:
(I)
the Division of State Parks;
(II)
the Division of Outdoor Recreation; or
(III)
the Division of Wildlife Resources; and
(C)
are not subject to taxation under:
(I)
Chapter 2, Property Tax Act; or
(II)
Chapter 4, Privilege Tax.
(k)
The Legislature shall annually appropriate to the Permanent Community Impact 
Fund all deposits remaining in the Mineral Lease Account after making the 
appropriations provided for in Subsections (2)(d) through (j).
(3)
(a)
Each agency, board, institution of higher education, and political subdivision 
receiving money under this chapter shall provide the Legislature, through the Office 
of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, with a complete accounting of the use of that 
money on an annual basis.
(b)
The accounting required under Subsection (3)(a) shall:
(i)
include actual expenditures for the prior fiscal year, budgeted expenditures for the 
current fiscal year, and planned expenditures for the following fiscal year; and
(ii)
be reviewed by the Business, Economic Development, and Labor Appropriations 
Subcommittee as part of its normal budgetary process under Title 63J, Chapter 1, 
Budgetary Procedures Act.
Section 4, Section 
63J-1-314
 is amended to read:
63J-1-314
. Deposits related to the Utah Wildfire Fund and the Disaster 
Recovery Funding Act.
(1)
As used in this section, "operating deficit" means that, at the end of the fiscal year, the 
unassigned fund balance in the General Fund is less than zero.
(2)
Except as provided under Subsections 
(3)
 and 
(4)
, at the end of each fiscal year, the 
Division of Finance shall, after the transfer of General Fund revenue surplus has been 
made to the Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account, as provided 
in Section 
63J-1-315
, and the General Fund Budget Reserve Account, as provided in 
Section 
63J-1-312
, transfer:
(a)
(i)
for a fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 2026, to the Utah Wildfire Fund 
created in Section 
65A-8-216
, $4,000,000 each fiscal year until an aggregate 
amount of $20,000,000 is transferred under this Subsection 
(2)(a)(i)
; and
(ii)
to the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund created in Section 
65A-8-204
for a fiscal 
year ending after the requirements of Subsection (2)(a)(i) are met, to the Utah 
Wildfire Fund created in Section 
65A-8-216
,
 an amount equal to the lesser of:
(i)
(A)
$4,000,000; or
(ii)
(B)
an amount necessary to make the balance in the 
Wildland Fire 
Suppression
Utah Wildfire
 Fund equal to 
$12,000,000;
$70,000,000; and
(b)
if no money is transferred to the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund under Subsection 
(2)(a)
, to the Wildland-urban Interface Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation 
Fund created in Section 
65A-8-215
 an amount equal to the lesser of:
(i)
$4,000,000; and
(ii)
the amount necessary to make the balance in the Wildland-urban Interface 
Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund equal to $12,000,000; and
(c)
(b)
an amount into the State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account, created in 
Section 
53-2a-603
, from the General Fund revenue surplus as defined in Section 
63J-1-312
, calculated by:
(i)
determining the amount of General Fund revenue surplus after the transfer to the 
Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account under Section 
63J-1-315
, the General Fund Budget Reserve Account under Section 
63J-1-312
, 
and the transfer to the 
Wildland Fire Suppression
Utah Wildfire
 Fund as 
described in Subsection 
(2)(a)
;
(ii)
calculating an amount equal to the lesser of:
(A)
25% of the amount determined under Subsection 
(2)(c)(i)
(2)(b)(i)
; or
(B)
6% of the total of the General Fund appropriation amount for the fiscal year in 
which the surplus occurs; and
(iii)
adding to the amount calculated under Subsection 
(2)(c)(ii)
(2)(b)(ii)
 an amount 
equal to the lesser of:
(A)
25% more of the amount described in Subsection 
(2)(c)(i)
(2)(b)(i)
; or
(B)
the amount necessary to replace, in accordance with this Subsection 
(2)(c)(iii)
(2)(b)(iii)
, any amount appropriated from the State Disaster Recovery 
Restricted Account within 10 fiscal years before the fiscal year in which the 
surplus occurs if:
(I)
a surplus exists; and
(II)
the Legislature appropriates money from the State Disaster Recovery 
Restricted Account that is not replaced by appropriation or as provided in 
this Subsection 
(2)(c)(iii)
(2)(b)(iii)
.
(3)
(a)
Notwithstanding Subsection 
(2)
, if, at the end of a fiscal year, the Division of 
Finance determines that an operating deficit exists, the division shall reduce the 
transfer to the State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account by an amount necessary to 
eliminate the operating deficit, up to the full amount of the transfer.
(b)
If, after reducing the transfer to the State Disaster Recovery Account to zero under 
Subsection 
(3)(a)
, the Division of Finance determines that an operating deficit still 
exists, the division shall reduce the transfer to the 
Wildland Fire Suppression
Utah 
Wildfire
 Fund by an amount necessary to eliminate the operating deficit, up to the 
full amount of the transfer.
(4)
Notwithstanding Subsection 
(2)
:
(a)
for the period beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2020, the Division of 
Finance shall transfer to the Local Government Emergency Response Loan Fund 
25% of the amount to be transferred into the State Disaster Recovery Restricted 
Account as provided in Subsection 
(2)(c)(ii)
(2)(b)(ii)
;
(b)
on and after July 1, 2020, the Division of Finance shall transfer to the Local 
Government Emergency Response Loan Fund 10% of the amount to be transferred 
into the State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account as provided in Subsection 
(2)(c)
(2)(b)
; and
(c)
on and after July 1, 2023, the Division of Finance shall transfer to the Response, 
Recovery, and Post-disaster Mitigation Restricted Account 25% of the amount to be 
transferred into the State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account as provided in 
Subsection 
(2)
(c)
(2)(b)
.
Section 5, Section 
63J-1-315
 is amended to read:
63J-1-315
. Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account -- 
Transfers of Medicaid growth savings -- Base budget adjustments.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Department" means the Department of Health and Human Services created in 
Section 
26B-1-201
.
(b)
"Division" means the Division of Integrated Healthcare created in Section 
26B-3-102
.
(c)
"General Fund revenue surplus" means a situation where actual General Fund 
revenues collected in a completed fiscal year exceed the estimated revenues for the 
General Fund for that fiscal year that were adopted by the Executive Appropriations 
Committee of the Legislature.
(d)
"Medicaid growth savings" means the Medicaid growth target minus Medicaid 
program expenditures, if Medicaid program expenditures are less than the Medicaid 
growth target.
(e)
"Medicaid growth target" means Medicaid program expenditures for the previous 
year multiplied by 1.08.
(f)
"Medicaid program" is as defined in Section 
26B-3-101
.
(g)
"Medicaid program expenditures" means total state revenue expended for the 
Medicaid program from the General Fund, including restricted accounts within the 
General Fund, during a fiscal year.
(h)
"Medicaid program expenditures for the previous year" means total state revenue 
expended for the Medicaid program from the General Fund, including restricted 
accounts within the General Fund, during the fiscal year immediately preceding a 
fiscal year for which Medicaid program expenditures are calculated.
(i)
"Operating deficit" means that, at the end of the fiscal year, the unassigned fund 
balance in the General Fund is less than zero.
(j)
"State revenue" means revenue other than federal revenue.
(k)
"State revenue expended for the Medicaid program" includes money transferred or 
appropriated to the Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account 
only to the extent the money is appropriated for the Medicaid program by the 
Legislature.
(2)
There is created within the General Fund a restricted account to be known as the 
Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account.
(3)
(a)
The following shall be deposited into the Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget 
Stabilization Account:
(i)
deposits described in Subsection (4);
(ii)
beginning July 1, 2024, any general funds appropriated to the department for the 
state plan for medical assistance or for Medicaid administration by the Division of 
Integrated Healthcare that are not expended by the department in the fiscal year 
for which the general funds were appropriated and which are not otherwise 
designated as nonlapsing shall lapse into the Medicaid Growth Reduction and 
Budget Stabilization Account;
(iii)
beginning July 1, 2024, any unused state funds that are associated with the 
Medicaid program from the Department of Workforce Services;
(iv)
beginning July 1, 2024, any penalties imposed and collected under:
(A)
Section 
17B-2a-818.5
;
(B)
Section 
19-1-206
;
(C)
Section 
63A-5b-607
;
(D)
Section 
63C-9-403
;
(E)
Section 
72-6-107.5
; or
(F)
Section 
79-2-404
; and
(v)
at the close of fiscal year 2024, the Division of Finance shall transfer any existing 
balance in the Medicaid Restricted Account created in Section 
26B-1-309
 into the 
Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account.
(b)
In addition to the deposits described in Subsection (3)(a), the Legislature may 
appropriate money into the Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization 
Account.
(4)
(a)
(i)
Except as provided in Subsection (7), if, at the end of a fiscal year, there is a 
General Fund revenue surplus, the Division of Finance shall transfer an amount 
equal to Medicaid growth savings from the General Fund to the Medicaid Growth 
Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account.
(ii)
If the amount transferred is reduced to prevent an operating deficit, as provided in 
Subsection (7), the Legislature shall include, to the extent revenue is available, an 
amount equal to the reduction as an appropriation from the General Fund to the 
account in the base budget for the second fiscal year following the fiscal year for 
which the reduction was made.
(b)
If, at the end of a fiscal year, there is not a General Fund revenue surplus, the 
Legislature shall include, to the extent revenue is available, an amount equal to 
Medicaid growth savings as an appropriation from the General Fund to the account in 
the base budget for the second fiscal year following the fiscal year for which the 
reduction was made.
(c)
Subsections (4)(a) and (4)(b) apply only to the fiscal year in which the department 
implements the proposal developed under Section 
26B-3-202
 to reduce the long-term 
growth in state expenditures for the Medicaid program, and to each fiscal year after 
that year.
(5)
The Division of Finance shall calculate the amount to be transferred under Subsection 
(4):
(a)
before transferring revenue from the General Fund revenue surplus to:
(i)
the General Fund Budget Reserve Account under Section 
63J-1-312
;
(ii)
(A)
the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund created in Section 
65A-8-204
, as 
described in Section 
63J-1-314
; or
(B)
the Wildland-urban Interface Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund 
under Section 
63J-1-314
; and
(ii)
the Utah Wildfire Fund created in Section 
65A-8-216
, as described in Section 
63J-1-314
; and
(iii)
the State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account under Section 
63J-1-314
;
(b)
before earmarking revenue from the General Fund revenue surplus to the Industrial 
Assistance Account under Section 
63N-3-106
; and
(c)
before making any other year-end contingency appropriations, year-end set-asides, or 
other year-end transfers required by law.
(6)
(a)
If, at the close of any fiscal year, there appears to be insufficient money to pay 
additional debt service for any bonded debt authorized by the Legislature, the 
Division of Finance may hold back from any General Fund revenue surplus money 
sufficient to pay the additional debt service requirements resulting from issuance of 
bonded debt that was authorized by the Legislature.
(b)
The Division of Finance may not spend the hold back amount for debt service under 
Subsection (6)(a) unless and until it is appropriated by the Legislature.
(c)
If, after calculating the amount for transfer under Subsection (4), the remaining 
General Fund revenue surplus is insufficient to cover the hold back for debt service 
required by Subsection (6)(a), the Division of Finance shall reduce the transfer to the 
Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account by the amount 
necessary to cover the debt service hold back.
(d)
Notwithstanding Subsections (4) and (5), the Division of Finance shall hold back the 
General Fund balance for debt service authorized by this Subsection (6) before 
making any transfers to the Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization 
Account or any other designation or allocation of General Fund revenue surplus.
(7)
Notwithstanding Subsections (4) and (5), if, at the end of a fiscal year, the Division of 
Finance determines that an operating deficit exists and that holding back earmarks to the 
Industrial Assistance Account under Section 
63N-3-106
, transfers to the 
 Wildland Fire 
Suppression Fund
Utah Wildfire Fund
 and State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account 
under Section 
63J-1-314
, transfers to the General Fund Budget Reserve Account under 
Section 
63J-1-312
, or earmarks and transfers to more than one of those accounts, in that 
order, does not eliminate the operating deficit, the Division of Finance may reduce the 
transfer to the Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account by the 
amount necessary to eliminate the operating deficit.
(8)
The Legislature may appropriate money from the Medicaid Growth Reduction and 
Budget Stabilization Account only:
(a)
for the Medicaid program; and
(b)
(i)
if Medicaid program expenditures for the fiscal year for which the 
appropriation is made are estimated to be 108% or more of Medicaid program 
expenditures for the previous year; or
(ii)
if the amount of the appropriation is equal to or less than the balance in the 
Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account that comprises 
deposits described in Subsections (3)(a)(ii) through (v) and appropriations 
described in Subsection (3)(b).
(9)
The Division of Finance shall deposit interest or other earnings derived from investment 
of Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account money into the 
General Fund.
Section 6, Section 
63J-3-103
 is amended to read:
63J-3-103
. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1)
(a)
"Appropriations" means actual unrestricted capital and operating appropriations 
from unrestricted General Fund and Income Tax Fund sources.
(b)
"Appropriations" includes appropriations that are contingent upon available 
surpluses in the General Fund and Income Tax Fund.
(c)
"Appropriations" does not mean:
(i)
public education expenditures;
(ii)
Utah Education and Telehealth Network expenditures in support of public 
education;
(iii)
Utah Board of Higher Education expenditures in support of public education;
(iv)
State Tax Commission expenditures related to collection of income taxes in 
support of public education;
(v)
debt service expenditures;
(vi)
emergency expenditures;
(vii)
expenditures from all other fund or subfund sources;
(viii)
transfers or appropriations from the Income Tax Fund to the Uniform School 
Fund;
(ix)
transfers into, or appropriations made to, the General Fund Budget Reserve 
Account established in Section 
63J-1-312
;
(x)
transfers into, or appropriations made to, the Income Tax Fund Budget Reserve 
Account established in Section 
63J-1-313
;
(xi)
transfers in accordance with Section 
63J-1-314
 into, or appropriations made to 
the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund created in Section 
65A-8-204
, the 
Wildland-urban Interface Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund created 
in Section 
65A-8-215
,
the Utah Wildfire Fund created in Section 
65A-8-216
 or 
the State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account created in Section 
53-2a-603
;
(xii)
money appropriated to fund the total one-time project costs for the construction 
of capital development projects as defined in Section 
63A-5b-401
;
(xiii)
transfers or deposits into or appropriations made to the Centennial Highway 
Fund created by Section 
72-2-118
;
(xiv)
transfers or deposits into or appropriations made to the Transportation 
Investment Fund of 2005 created by Section 
72-2-124
;
(xv)
transfers or deposits into or appropriations made to:
(A)
the Department of Transportation from any source; or
(B)
any transportation-related account or fund from any source; or
(xvi)
supplemental appropriations from the General Fund to the Division of Forestry, 
Fire, and State Lands to provide money for wildland fire control expenses 
incurred during the current or previous fire years.
(2)
"Base year real per capita appropriations" means the result obtained for the state by 
dividing the fiscal year 1985 actual appropriations of the state less debt money by:
(a)
the state's July 1, 1983 population; and
(b)
the fiscal year 1983 inflation index divided by 100.
(3)
"Calendar year" means the time period beginning on January 1 of any given year and 
ending on December 31 of the same year.
(4)
"Fiscal emergency" means an extraordinary occurrence requiring immediate 
expenditures and includes the settlement under Laws of Utah 1988, Fourth Special 
Session, Chapter 4.
(5)
"Fiscal year" means the time period beginning on July 1 of any given year and ending 
on June 30 of the subsequent year.
(6)
"Fiscal year 1985 actual base year appropriations" means fiscal year 1985 actual capital 
and operations appropriations from General Fund and non-Uniform School Fund income 
tax revenue sources, less debt money.
(7)
"Inflation index" means the change in the general price level of goods and services as 
measured by the Gross National Product Implicit Price Deflator of the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce calculated as provided in Section 
63J-3-202
.
(8)
(a)
"Maximum allowable appropriations limit" means the appropriations that could 
be, or could have been, spent in any given year under the limitations of this chapter.
(b)
"Maximum allowable appropriations limit" does not mean actual appropriations 
spent or actual expenditures.
(9)
"Most recent fiscal year's inflation index" means the fiscal year inflation index two 
fiscal years previous to the fiscal year for which the maximum allowable inflation and 
population appropriations limit is being computed under this chapter.
(10)
"Most recent fiscal year's population" means the fiscal year population two fiscal years 
previous to the fiscal year for which the maximum allowable inflation and population 
appropriations limit is being computed under this chapter.
(11)
"Population" means the number of residents of the state as of July 1 of each year as 
calculated by the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget according to the procedures 
and requirements of Section 
63J-3-202
.
(12)
"Revenues" means the revenues of the state from every tax, penalty, receipt, and other 
monetary exaction and interest connected with it that are recorded as unrestricted 
revenue of the General Fund and from non-Uniform School Fund income tax revenues, 
except as specifically exempted by this chapter.
(13)
"Security" means any bond, note, warrant, or other evidence of indebtedness, whether 
or not the bond, note, warrant, or other evidence of indebtedness is or constitutes an 
"indebtedness" within the meaning of any provision of the constitution or laws of this 
state.
Section 7, Section 
63N-3-106
 is amended to read:
63N-3-106
. Structure of loans, grants, and assistance -- Repayment -- Earned 
credits.
(1)
(a)
Subject to Subsection (1)(b), the administrator has authority to determine the 
structure, amount, and nature of any loan, grant, or other financial assistance from the 
restricted account.
(b)
Loans made under this part shall be structured so the intended repayment or return to 
the state, including cash or credit, equals at least the amount of the assistance 
together with an annual interest charge as negotiated by the administrator.
(c)
Payments resulting from grants awarded from the restricted account shall be made 
only after the administrator has determined that the company has satisfied the 
conditions upon which the payment or earned credit was based.
(2)
(a)
The administrator may provide for a system of earned credits that may be used to 
support grant payments or in lieu of cash repayment of a restricted account loan 
obligation.
(b)
The value of the credits described in Subsection (2)(a) shall be based on factors 
determined by the administrator, including:
(i)
the number of Utah jobs created;
(ii)
the increased economic activity in Utah; or
(iii)
other events and activities that occur as a result of the restricted account 
assistance.
(3)
(a)
A cash loan repayment or other cash recovery from a company receiving 
assistance under this section, including interest, shall be deposited into the restricted 
account.
(b)
The administrator and the Division of Finance shall determine the manner of 
recognizing and accounting for the earned credits used in lieu of loan repayments or 
to support grant payments as provided in Subsection (2).
(4)
(a)
(i)
At the end of each fiscal year, the Division of Finance shall transfer the 
balance of the General Fund revenue surplus as defined in Section 
63J-1-312
 after 
the transfers of General Fund revenue surplus described in Subsection (4)(b) to the 
Industrial Assistance Account in an amount equal to any credit that has accrued 
under this part.
(ii)
The transfer under Subsection (4)(a)(i) is capped at $50,000,000and the Division 
of Finance shall deposit any interest accrued above the $50,000,000 cap into the 
General Fund.
(b)
The Division of Finance shall make the transfer required by Subsection (4)(a) after 
the Division of Finance transfers the General Fund revenue 
surplusto
surplus to
:
(i)
the Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Restricted Account, as 
provided in Section 
63J-1-315
;
(ii)
the General Fund Budget Reserve Account, as provided in Section 
63J-1-312
; and
(iii)
as provided in Section 
63J-1-314
:
(A)
the 
Wildland Fire Suppression Fund or the Wildland-urban Interface 
Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund
Utah Wildfire Fund
; and
(B)
the State Disaster Recovery Restricted Account.
(c)
These credit amounts may not be used for purposes of the restricted account as 
provided in this part until appropriated by the Legislature.
Section 8, Section 
65A-1-1
 is amended to read:
65A-1-1
. Definitions.
As used in this title:
(1)
"Division" means the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands.
(2)
"Division of Law Enforcement" means the division within the Department of Natural 
Resources created under Title 79, Chapter 2, Part 7, Division of Law Enforcement.
(3)
"Fire service provider" means a public or private entity that fulfills the duties of 
Subsection 
11-7-1(1)
.
(3)
(4)
"Initial attack" means action taken by the first resource to arrive at a wildland fire 
incident, including evaluating the wildland fire, patrolling, monitoring, holding action, 
or aggressive suppression action.
(4)
(5)
"Multiple use" means the management of various surface and subsurface resources 
in a manner that will best meet the present and future needs of the people of this state.
(5)
(6)
"Municipality" means a city or town.
(6)
(7)
"Public trust assets" means those lands and resources, including sovereign lands, 
administered by the division.
(7)
(8)
"Sovereign lands" means those lands lying below the ordinary high water mark of 
navigable bodies of water at the date of statehood and owned by the state by virtue of its 
sovereignty.
(8)
(9)
"State lands" means all lands administered by the division.
(9)
(10)
"Sustained yield" means the achievement and maintenance of high level annual or 
periodic output of the various renewable resources of land without impairment of the 
productivity of the land.
(10)
(11)
"Wildland" means an area where:
(a)
development is essentially non-existent, except for roads, railroads, powerlines, or 
similar transportation facilities; and
(b)
structures, if any, are widely scattered.
(11)
(12)
"Wildland fire" means a fire that consumes:
(a)
wildland; or
(b)
wildland-urban interface
, as defined in Section 
65A-8a-102
.
(13)
"Wildland-urban interface" means the zone where structures and other human 
development meets, or intermingles with, undeveloped wildland.
Section 9, Section 
65A-8-203
 is amended to read:
65A-8-203
. Cooperative fire protection agreements.
(1)
As used in this section
:
(a)
"Eligible 
, "eligible 
entity" means:
(i)
(a)
a county, a municipality, or a special service district, special district, or service 
area with:
(A)
(i)
wildland fire suppression responsibility as described in Section 
11-7-1
; and
(B)
(ii)
wildland fire suppression cost responsibility and taxing authority for a 
specific geographic jurisdiction; or
(ii)
(b)
upon approval by the director, a political subdivision established by a county, 
municipality, special service district, special district, or service area that is 
responsible for:
(A)
(i)
providing wildland fire suppression services; and
(B)
(ii)
paying for the cost of wildland fire suppression services.
(b)
"Fire service provider" means a public or private entity that fulfills the duties of 
Subsection 
11-7-1
(1).
(2)
(a)
The governing body of any eligible entity may enter into a cooperative agreement 
with the division to receive financial and wildfire management cooperation and 
assistance from the division, as described in this part.
(b)
A cooperative agreement shall last for a term of no more than five years and be 
renewable if the eligible entity continues to meet the requirements of this chapter.
(3)
(a)
The state shall assume an eligible entity's cost of suppressing catastrophic wildfire 
as defined in the cooperative agreement if the eligible entity has entered into, and is 
in full compliance with, a cooperative agreement with the division, as described in 
this section.
(b)
A county or municipality that is not covered by a cooperative agreement with the 
division, as described in this section, shall be responsible for wildland fire costs 
within the county or municipality's jurisdiction, as described in Section 
65A-8-203.2
.
(4)
To enter into a cooperative agreement with the division, the eligible entity shall:
(a)
if the eligible entity is a county, adopt and enforce on unincorporated land a wildland 
fire ordinance based upon minimum standards established by the division or Uniform 
Building Code Commission;
(b)
require that the fire department or equivalent fire service provider under contract 
with, or delegated by, the eligible entity on unincorporated land meet minimum 
standards for wildland fire training, certification, and suppression equipment based 
upon nationally accepted standards as specified by the division;
(c)
invest in prevention, preparedness, and mitigation efforts, as agreed to with the 
division, that will reduce the eligible entity's risk of catastrophic wildfire;
(d)
(i)
file with the division an annual accounting of wildfire prevention, 
preparedness, mitigation actions, and associated costs;
(ii)
meet the eligibility entity's participation commitment by making direct payments 
to the division; or
(iii)
do a combination of Subsections (4)(d)(i) and (ii);
(e)
return the financial statement described in Subsection (6), signed by the chief 
executive of the eligible entity, to the division on or before the date set by the 
division; and
(f)
if the eligible entity is a county, have a designated fire warden as described in Section 
65A-8-209.1
.
(5)
(a)
The state forester may execute a cooperative agreement with the eligible entity.
(b)
The division shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah 
Administrative Rulemaking Act, governing the:
(i)
cooperative agreements described in this section;
(ii)
manner in which an eligible entity shall provide proof of compliance with 
Subsection (4);
(iii)
manner by which the division may revoke a cooperative agreement if an eligible 
entity ceases to meet the requirements described in this section;
(iv)
accounting system for determining suppression costs;
(v)
manner in which the division shall determine the eligible entity's participation 
commitment; and
(vi)
manner in which an eligible entity may appeal a division determination
 of 
participation commitment
.
(6)
(a)
The division shall send a financial statement to each eligible entity participating in 
a cooperative agreement that details the eligible entity's participation commitment for 
the coming fiscal year, including the prevention, preparedness, and mitigation actions 
agreed to under Subsection (4)(c).
(b)
Each eligible entity participating in a cooperative agreement shall:
(i)
have the chief executive of the eligible entity sign the financial statement, or the 
legislative body of the eligible entity approve the financial statement by 
resolution, confirming the eligible entity's participation for the upcoming year; and
(ii)
return the financial statement to the division, on or before a date set by the 
division.
(c)
A financial statement shall be effective for one calendar year, beginning on the date 
set by the division, as described in Subsection (6)(b).
(7)
(a)
An eligible entity may revoke a cooperative agreement before the end of the 
cooperative agreement's term by:
(i)
informing the division, in writing, of the eligible entity's intention to revoke the 
cooperative agreement; or
(ii)
failing to sign and return its annual financial statement, as described in 
Subsection (6)(b), unless the director grants an extension.
(b)
An eligible entity may not revoke a cooperative agreement before the end of the term 
of a signed annual financial statement, as described in Subsection (6)(c).
(8)
(a)
The division shall develop and maintain a wildfire risk assessment mapping tool 
that is online and publicly accessible.
(b)
(i)
The division shall analyze adding an additional high-risk category within the 
wildfire risk assessment mapping tool described in Subsection (8)(a):
(A)
(i)
using a scientific assessment; and
(B)
(ii)
that is focused on the risk to dwellings within the wildland-urban interface 
area.
(ii)
The division shall report the results of the division's analysis under this 
Subsection (8)(b) to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim 
Committee by no later than the 2024 November interim meeting of that committee.
(c)
With regard to the categories used within the wildfire risk assessment mapping tool 
described in Subsection (8)(a), the division may adjust the assessment for 
participation commitments if the adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index 
for All Urban Consumers as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the 
United States Department of Labor, in accordance with a formula established by the 
division by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative 
Rulemaking Act.
(9)
(a)
The division may by rule, made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah 
Administrative Rulemaking Act, establish criteria for community wildfire 
preparedness plans addressing wildland-urban interface. The criteria shall require 
action that is:
(i)
qualitative and quantitative; and
(ii)
leads to reduced wildfire risk.
(b)
An eligible entity shall agree to implement prevention, preparedness, and mitigation 
actions identified in a community wildfire preparedness plan addressing 
wildland-urban interface that is approved by the division.
Section 10, Section 
65A-8-203.1
 is amended to read:
65A-8-203.1
. Delegation of fire management authority.
(1)
As used in this section, "delegation of fire management authority" means the acceptance 
by the division of responsibility for:
(a)
managing a wildfire; and
(b)
the cost of fire suppression, as described in Section 
65A-8-203
wildfire costs and 
wildfire prevention costs as defined in Section 
65A-8-216
.
(2)
The division shall make rules, in accordance with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah 
Administrative Rulemaking Act
, governing the process for delegation of fire 
management authority.
(3)
Upon delegation of fire management authority, the division and its named designee 
becomes the primary incident commander.
(4)
The division may take action to recover costs described in Subsection 
(1)(b)
 upon 
delegation of fire management authority.
Section 11, Section 
65A-8-216
 is enacted to read:
65A-8-216
. Utah Wildfire Fund.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Eligible entity" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
65A-8-203
.
(b)
"Fund" means the Utah Wildfire Fund created by this section.
(c)
"Wildfire" means a fire that consumes:
(i)
wildland; or
(ii)
wildland-urban interface.
(d)
"Wildfire costs" means costs associated with the suppression of a wildfire or 
rehabilitation efforts after a wildfire is suppressed as further defined by the division 
by rule, made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative 
Rulemaking Act, including costs for an eligible entity that has entered into a 
cooperative agreement, as described in Section 
65A-8-203
.
(e)
"Wildfire prevention costs" means costs for prevention, preparedness, or mitigation 
efforts before a wildfire, as defined by the division by rule made in accordance with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, including costs of an 
eligible entity that has entered into a cooperative agreement, as described in Section 
65A-8-203
.
(2)
(a)
There is created an expendable special revenue fund known as the "Utah Wildfire 
Fund."
(b)
The fund shall consist of:
(i)
interest and earnings from the investment of fund money;
(ii)
money appropriated by the Legislature to the fund;
(iii)
federal funds received by the division for wildfire management costs, as defined 
by the division by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah 
Administrative Rulemaking Act;
(iv)
suppression costs billed to an eligible entity that does not participate in a 
cooperative agreement;
(v)
suppression costs paid to the division by another state agency;
(vi)
costs recovered from a settlement or a civil or administrative action related to 
wildfire suppression;
(vii)
restitution payments ordered by a court following a criminal adjudication;
(viii)
voluntary contributions received by the division;
(ix)
money received as direct payment from cooperative wildfire system participation 
commitments;
(x)
money deposited by the Division of Finance, pursuant to Section 
59-21-2
; and
(xi)
money transferred by the Division of Finance, pursuant to Section 
63J-1-314
.
(c)
The state treasurer shall:
(i)
invest the money in the fund in accordance with Title 51, Chapter 7, State Money 
Management Act; and
(ii)
deposit interest or other earnings derived from each investment described in 
Subsection (2)(c)(i) into the fund.
(3)
(a)
The division shall administer the fund to:
(i)
pay wildfire costs on:
(A)
state lands; or
(B)
if delegated fire management authority, as described in Section 
65A-8-203.1
, 
private land located in an unincorporated area;
(ii)
subject to Subsection 
(4)
, make one or more grants for the purpose of assisting 
one or more local fire departments or volunteer fire departments in building 
capacity for the suppression of wildfire; and
(iii)
subject to Subsection 
(5)
, pay wildfire prevention costs.
(b)
The division may disburse money from the fund only upon written order of the state 
forester or the state forester's authorized representative.
(c)
If the state forester determines money in the fund may be insufficient to cover 
eligible costs in a fire season, the state forester may:
(i)
delay making disbursements from the fund until the close of the fire season; and
(ii)
request supplemental appropriations from the Legislature.
(d)
In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the 
division shall make rules to administer the fund consistent with the requirements of 
this section.
(4)
(a)
The division may not issue in a fiscal year an aggregate of grants described in 
Subsection 
(3)(a)
(ii) that exceed $300,000.
(b)
In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the 
division shall make rules establishing criteria for receiving a grant under Subsection 
(3)(a)(ii).
(5)
(a)
 Except as provided in Subsection 
(5)(b)
, the division shall pay wildfire 
prevention costs during that fiscal year in an amount that is the greater of:
(i)
$10,000,000; or
(ii)
the sum of:
(A)
$3,000,000; and
(B)
10% of the money deposited into the fund but not expended in the previous 
fiscal year for wildfire costs.
(b)
In a case of catastrophic need, as determined by the state forester, the division may 
use money described in Subsection (5)(a) to pay wildfire costs.
(6)
Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the division shall, by no later than 
the October 31 immediately following the fiscal year, annually report to the Natural 
Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee:
(a)
the balance in the fund at the end of the fiscal year;
(b)
the amount of expenditures under Subsections 
(3)(a)(i)
, (ii), and (iii) during the fiscal 
year; and
(c)
the revenues deposited into the fund under Subsection 
(2)
 during the fiscal year.
Section 12, Section 
65A-8a-102
 is amended to read:
65A-8a-102
. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1)
"Commercial tree species" means:
(a)
Abies concolor (white fir);
(b)
Abies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir);
(c)
Juniperus osteosperma (Utah juniper);
(d)
Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper);
(e)
Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce);
(f)
Picea pungens (blue spruce);
(g)
Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine);
(h)
Pinus edulis (pi
on pine);
(i)
Pinus flexilis (limber pine);
(j)
Pinus longaeva (bristlecone pine);
(k)
Pinus monophylla (singleleaf pi
on);
(l)
Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine);
(m)
Populous tremuloides (quaking aspen);
(n)
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir); or
(o)
Quercus gambelii (gambel oak).
(2)
(a)
"Forest practice" means, except as provided in Subsection 
(2)(b)
:
(i)
the harvesting of commercial tree species;
(ii)
new road construction associated with harvesting or accessing trees;
(iii)
site preparation for regeneration of a timber stand;
(iv)
reforestation; or
(v)
the management of logging slash.
(b)
"Forest practice" does not include:
(i)
the operation of a nursery or Christmas tree farm;
(ii)
the harvest of Christmas trees;
(iii)
the harvest of trees for the noncommercial, personal use by the owner of forested 
land from which the trees are harvested;
(iv)
a harvesting operation encompassing fewer than five contiguous acres of forested 
land;
(v)
clearing land for defensible space in a wildland-urban interface; or
(vi)
fuel reduction for a wildland-urban interface or hazardous fuel reduction project.
(3)
"Forested land" means land, except land owned by the federal government or located 
within an incorporated city, growing commercial tree species that are, or could be at 
maturity, capable of furnishing raw material used in the manufacture of lumber or other 
forest products.
(4)
"Forest Water Quality Guidelines" means the field-applicable practice guidelines 
adopted by the division for use during forestry activities to protect water quality and 
contained within a nonpoint source management plan.
(5)
"Landowner" means a person who holds an ownership interest in forested land.
(6)
"Operator" means a person who:
(a)
is responsible for conducting forest practices; or
(b)
through a contractual agreement with the landowner, is obligated to or entitled to 
conduct forest practices or to carry out a timber sale.
(7)
"Wildland-urban interface" means the zone where structures and other human 
development meets, or intermingles with, undeveloped wildland.
Section 13, 
Repealer.
Wildland Fire Suppression Fund created.
Disbursements from the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund.
Division to administer Wildland Fire Suppression Fund -- 
Rulemaking -- Procedures.
Creation of the Wildland Fire Preparedness Grants Fund -- 
Awarding of grants -- Rulemaking.
Wildland-urban interface fire prevention, preparedness, and 
mitigation.
Section 14. 
FY 2026 Appropriations.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 
2025, and ending June 30, 2026. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for 
fiscal year 2026. 
Subsection 14(a).
Expendable Funds and Accounts
The Legislature has reviewed the following expendable funds. The Legislature 
authorizes the State Division of Finance to transfer amounts between funds and accounts as 
indicated. Outlays and expenditures from the funds or accounts to which the money is 
transferred may be made without further legislative action, in accordance with statutory 
provisions relating to the funds or accounts.
Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality
Department of Natural Resources
ITEM 1
Department of Natural Resources - Utah Wildfire Fund
From Wildland-Urban Interface Prevention, 
Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund, One-time
3,549,800
From Wildland Fire Preparedness Grants Fund, One-time
140,200
From Wildland Fire Suppression Fund, One-time
146,332,500
Utah Wildfire Fund
150,022,500
Section 15. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
July 1, 2025
.
Section 16. 
Coordinating H.B. 307 with H.B. 48.
If H.B. 307, Wildfire Funding Amendments, and H.B. 48, Wildland Urban Interface 
Modifications, both pass and become law, the Legislature intends that, on January 1, 2026:
(1) "Wildland-urban Interface Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund created in 
Section 65A-8-215" be replaced with "Utah Wildfire Fund created in Section 65A-8-216" in 
Subsection 
17-16-22(3)(b)(i)
 enacted in H.B. 48; and
(2) the following language be inserted as Subsection 
65A-8-216(2)(b)(xii)
 in H.B. 307: 
"(xii) money deposited by the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, pursuant to Section 
17-16-22
.".
3-11-25 3:54 PM