HB 376, which passed unanimously (12-0) through a House committee on February 2, 2026, allocates increased funding for Utah State University’s (USU) Utah Forest Restoration Institute (UFRI) and establishes collaboration with the Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI). The bill aims to enhance research on forest and watershed health and fund restoration projects.
Supporters, including officials from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Trout Unlimited, emphasized the bill’s potential for better transparency in wildfire relief funding. Rep. Carl Albrecht noted that the partnership would engage students in proactive land stewardship. WRI Director Tyler Thompson highlighted the bill as a formalization of their existing collaboration.
USU’s January 2026 report predicts a 60% increase in wildfire risk by 2050 under current climate trends. Increased funding for wildlife rehabilitation was also underscored by Justin Shannon and Sierra Nelson, who hailed the bill as beneficial for wildlife management. The bill allocates $4.5 million from the Utah Income Tax Fund for its initiatives, with Rep. Casey Snider stressing the importance of training future land managers through USU.
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