On February 13, House Majority Leader Rep. Ken Bragg (R - Sheridan) and 10 co-sponsors filed HB 1379, AFA's bill that will clarify and set a cap on the amount of an assessment that can be levied on timberland by a Fire Protection District. The bill has been assigned to the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee and may be considered as early as Monday, February 23. 

Please contact the committee members listed below and respectfully request their support:

Chairman, Representative Dan M. Douglas

Vice Chairman, Representative David Hillman

Representative Charles L. Armstrong

Representative Rick Beck

Representative Ken Bragg

Representative David L. Branscum

Representative Andy Davis

Representative Jon S. Eubanks

Representative Kim Hendren

Representative Douglas House

Representative Lane Jean

Representative Sheilla E. Lampkin

Representative Mark D. McElroy

Representative Ron McNair

Representative Stephen Meeks

Representative John Payton

Representative Mathew W. Pitsch

Representative James Ratliff

Representative Matthew J. Shepherd

Representative David Whitaker

Background on HB 1379

All private timberland owners in Arkansas are required under ACA 26-61-103 to pay the Forest Fire Protection Tax of 20-cents per acre. No other classification of landowner pays the Forest Fire Protection Tax. The 89th General Assembly increased the Forest Fire Protection Tax by five cents per acre to the current 20-cents per acre amount. The Arkansas Forestry Association (AFA), which advocates on behalf of private timberland owners in the state, supported the increase. Funds derived from the tax go directly to the Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) to support the Commission's comprehensive fire suppression program. Private timberland owners depend on AFC to carry out its mission to protect Arkansas's forests from wildland fire and natural hazards.

Fire Protection Districts under ACA 14-284-212, may lawfully assess timberland a fee in addition to the Forest Fire Protection Tax. There is no limit to what the Fire Protection District can assess timberland. To avoid duplication of services, Fire Protection Districts, according to ACA 14-284-201, are established for the primary purpose of providing fire protection in rural areas for buildings, structures, and other man-made improvements.

What HB 1379 Does

• Specifies that the elected board of commissioners of a Fire Protection District shall assess timberland at an amount no greater than 25 percent of the Forest Fire Protection Tax
• Allows Fire Protection Districts that have been legally organized at the time of the bill's passage to continue to assess timberland at the District's current rate
• Acknowledges the role of a Fire Protection District in responding to timberland fires
• Sets the amount of the assessment that may be levied by a Fire Protection District at an appropriate level in comparison to the Forest Fire Protection Tax
• Assures that timberland owners are not being assessed for services that cannot be provided to them

What HB 1379 Does NOT Do

• Does not take away any funds from Fire Protection Districts that are currently in existence under ACA 26-61-103
• Does not raise taxes on any citizen of Arkansas