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HJ 35

Joint resolution urging changes to federal wildfire policy

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jedediah Hinkle

Non-binding joint resolution urging federal agencies and Congress to revise wildfire policy to prevent, mitigate, and respond to fires, aiming to protect communities and forests.

(H) Filed with Secretary of State
#federalgovernment #firesandfireprotection #generaljointresolution
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Bill Summary · HJ 35

Summary — HJ 35: Joint resolution urging changes to federal wildfire policy

Overview

HJ 35 is a joint resolution, introduced by Representative Jedediah Hinkle, that formally urges changes to federal wildfire policy. As a resolution, it expresses the legislature’s position and requests federal action but does not itself create or change law. The resolution progressed rapidly through the legislative process in spring 2025 and was completed May 6, 2025 (see timeline below).

Purpose and intent

The resolution’s stated purpose is to call on the federal government to revise its wildfire-related policies and programs to better prevent, mitigate, and respond to wildfires affecting the state. The intent is to influence federal agencies (and Congress and the President) to adopt policy changes the state believes will reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, and better protect communities and infrastructure.

Key provisions (what the resolution does)

The body of the resolution is an expression of the legislature’s views and requests. It does not appropriate money or amend state or federal statutes. While full text is not included here, HJ 35 typically does the following:

  • Officially requests the federal government, relevant federal agencies (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, USDA), Congress, and the President to take specified actions to reduce wildfire risk.
  • Urges federal policy changes to emphasize prevention and active land/fuels management, improved coordination with state, tribal, and local governments, and expedited processes for implementing risk-reduction projects.
  • Calls for increased federal funding and administrative flexibility for fuels reduction, prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, forest restoration, community protection measures, post-fire rehabilitation, and support for local firefighting capacity.
  • Encourages reforms to permitting, environmental review, and forest-management program delivery to accelerate risk-reduction projects while safeguarding environmental standards.
  • May request enhanced federal support for rural economies, recovery assistance, and liability/insurance considerations for affected landowners and communities.

(If you need the exact wording of the requests, consult the enrolled resolution text or the legislative counsel copy.)

Who is affected

  • Federal policymakers and agencies are the direct audience of the resolution.
  • Indirectly affected parties include state, tribal, and local governments; county and municipal fire and land-management entities; private landowners; timber and natural-resource industries; rural communities; and residents in fire-prone areas—who may benefit if federal policies change in response.

Legislative timeline & status

  • Drafting and internal processing: Dec 2024–Mar 2025
  • Introduced in House: March 28, 2025; referred to House Natural Resources
  • House hearings and committee action: March 31 – April 1, 2025 (committee passed as amended)
  • House passed: April 5, 2025; transmitted to Senate
  • Senate committee hearing and concurrence: April 7–18, 2025
  • Senate passed: April 22, 2025
  • Enrolled and returned: April 24, 2025; signed/processed by House leadership (May 2)
  • Final processing: Signed May 6, 2025 and filed with Secretary of State May 6, 2025

Impact and limitations

  • Non‑binding: As a joint resolution urging federal action, HJ 35 is symbolic and advisory. It communicates the state legislature’s priorities and seeks to persuade federal actors to change policy but does not compel federal action.
  • Potential influence: Resolutions like HJ 35 can help shape public debate, support state-federal coordination, and be used to press Congress or agencies during rulemaking, budget decisions, or program design.
  • No fiscal effects or regulatory changes occur solely because the resolution was adopted.

Sponsor and related bill

  • Primary sponsor: Rep. Jedediah Hinkle
  • Related: LC 2199 (replaces)

If you would like, I can obtain and summarize the exact text of HJ 35 (the enrolled resolution) to provide verbatim requests and any specific policy language included.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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