Commissioner Hilary Franz Unveils Sweeping Wildfire and Forest Health Funding Proposal

Bill would make transformative investments in wildfire response, forest restoration and community resilience

On Tuesday, Jan. 12, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and Rep. Larry Springer (D-Kirkland) joined experts and advocacy leaders from across the state to unveil House Bill 1168 to create a dedicated funding source for wildfire response, forest restoration and community resilience strategies.

The legislation – developed by a wide-ranging coalition of firefighters, fire chiefs, tribes, environmentalists, public health advocates, and forest products companies – would create a first-of-its-kind dedicated funding account for wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience.

Commissioner Franz is asking the Legislature to create this account and fund it with $125 million each biennium.