UtahUtah wildfire fund can pay for forest work and recovery
Utah’s wildfire fund can pay the state’s costs under government forest management agreements and help restore federal land when that work benefits state and private lands.
What it does
The division may use Utah Wildfire Fund money for state costs under forest management agreements with other government agencies. The state agency must be substantially involved in the project.
The division may pay for wildfire recovery work on federal land if the state forester finds that it directly benefits state and private lands.
Argument forThe fund could help the state work with other governments on forest management and pay for federal land recovery that benefits state and private lands.
Argument againstUsing fund money for federal land recovery could leave less available for other wildfire costs, even when the work directly benefits state and private lands.
More detail
The division may use Utah Wildfire Fund money to pay state costs under forest management agreements. The costs must be incurred by the state under a cooperative agreement for forest management. The agreement must involve substantial state agency participation with other government agencies in a forest management project. The state forester or an authorized representative must give a written order before the division disburses fund money. These provisions took effect May 6, 2026.
The division may use fund money to pay for rehabilitation after a wildfire on federal land. This applies to post-fire rehabilitation work on federal land. The state forester must determine that the work directly benefits state and private lands. The state forester or an authorized representative must give a written order before the division disburses fund money. These provisions took effect May 6, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 5House/ to Senate
- Mar 5House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 5House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 5House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 5Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 5Senate/ substituted
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0496S02
- Mar 5LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0496S02
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 4LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0496S02
- Mar 4LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0496S02
- Mar 4Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Mar 3Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0496S01
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0496S01
- Mar 2Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Mar 2Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Mar 2Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 2House/ to Senate
- Feb 27House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27House/ substituted
- Feb 27House/ uncircled
- Feb 27LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0496S01
- Feb 27LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0496S01
- Feb 24House/ circled
- Feb 24House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 18House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 18House/ committee report favorable [House Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 18House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 13House Comm - Not Considered [House Revenue and Taxation Committee]
- Feb 12House/ to standing committee [House Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 10House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 10LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0496
- Feb 10LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0496
- Feb 5House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 5House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 5LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0496
- Feb 5LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0496
- Feb 5Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 5Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
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