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SF 152

Wildfire management-amendments.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Abby Angelos and 15 co-sponsors

Strengthen wildfire management by clarifying State Forester duties, restoring suppression funding, and enabling temporary borrowing up to $30 million if reserves run dry.

Assigned Chapter Number 129
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Bill Summary · SF 152

Summary — SF 152 (Enrolled Act No. 62 / Chapter 129) — "Wildfire management — amendments"

Status / timeline
- Introduced Jan. 29, 2025. Passed both chambers. Assigned Chapter No. 129. Governor signed (SEA No. 0062) on March 11, 2025. The Governor issued line-item vetoes eliminating certain provisions (described below).

Purpose
- To strengthen state wildfire management authorities and funding following 2024 wildfire expenditures by: (1) amending duties of the State Forester and the forestry division, (2) restoring state wildfire suppression expenditures and stabilizing funds, and (3) authorizing short-term borrowing to support fire-fighting if state forestry reserves are exhausted.

Key provisions (enacted)
1. State Forester duties (W.S. 36‑2‑108 amended)
- Clarifies/expands duties of the State Forester to include: adopting rules as necessary, appointing assistants and employees, and maintaining wildland/forestry fire‑control programs. Enumerated activities include fire management/coordination and related training, pre‑positioning suppression resources, and establishing standards/regulations for privately‑contracted wildland fire resources (including insurer‑retained services).

  1. Appropriations to restore 2024 suppression costs (general fund; effective immediately)

    • $1,000,000 to Governor’s Office — Special Contingency Division (unit 0601).
    • $1,263,966 to Governor’s Office — Disaster Contingency Unit, Homeland Security Division (unit 1106).
    • $20,000,000 to the Emergency Fire Suppression Account in the Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI).
    • Up to $20,000,000 from the general fund to be deposited in the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account (LSRA) to repay funds borrowed on or before June 30, 2025 under 2024 Session Laws, Ch. 118, §301(b).
    • These appropriated funds are dedicated to the specified purposes and are exempt from lapse (remain available for their specified use unless otherwise reauthorized).

  2. Temporary borrowing authority

    • For the period July 1, 2025 — June 30, 2026 the Governor may borrow up to $30,000,000 from the LSRA to fight wildfires if OSLI Forestry Division reserves are exhausted. The Governor must report immediately to the Joint Appropriations Committee, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House when exercising this authority.

  3. Reporting / administrative details

    • Reporting and other administrative requirements are included for actions taken under the act (e.g., reporting when borrowing is used).

Provisions vetoed by the Governor (not enacted)
- The Governor vetoed bracketed sections of the enrolled act that would have: (a) authorized a large loan program from the LSRA for mitigation/restoration projects (loan authorizations and detailed loan program), (b) created fund reversion requirements, and (c) repealed certain prior appropriations. Those loan, reversion and repeal provisions therefore do not take effect.

Fiscal impact (summary from fiscal note)
- Direct appropriations (general fund, effective immediately): approx. $22.3 million initially noted ($1,000,000 + $1,263,966 + $20,000,000), plus up to $20,000,000 deposit authority to LSRA for repayment. The fiscal note also reflected smaller appropriations (e.g., $25,000 each for Legislative Service Office and Governor’s Office for task‑force expenses in earlier drafts); readers should consult the final enrolled act text and the Governor’s veto message for exact enacted appropriation lines.

Who is affected
- Office of State Lands and Investments (Forestry Division), Governor’s Office contingency units, Homeland Security Division disaster unit, Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account, and state budget processes. (Loan program stakeholders—local governments, ranchers/farmers, conservation entities—would have been affected by the vetoed loan provisions.)

Where to find the law and next steps
- Enrolled Act No. 62 / Chapter 129 (2025) contains the enacted provisions; the Governor’s veto message (March 11, 2025) explains the removed items. For implementation details (rulemaking, reporting forms, borrowing use), consult the Office of State Lands and Investments and the Governor’s Office.

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

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