Official Summary Text
HB2159 - 572R - House Bill Summary
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session
Majority Research Staff
House
: LARA DP 5-3-0-0
HB
2159
: Mexican wolves; landowner permits; rules
Sponsor:
Representative Diaz, LD 19
House
Engrossed
Overview
Requires
the Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) issue a landowner a permit for the taking
of Mexican wolves in specified areas. Allows AZGFD to adopt rules to establish
a voluntary compensated incentive program for the trapping of Mexican wolves.
History
The Mexican Gray Wolf
Reintroduction Program began in 1998 under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
The program is overseen and implemented by the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS) (
FWS
).
The Arizona Game
and Fish Commission (Commission) is responsible for establishing the rules and
regulations for managing, conserving and protecting wildlife. The Commission is
comprised of five members appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate
confirmation, who serve five-year terms. AZGFD administers the rules and
regulations as set by the Commission (A.R.S. ��
17-201
,
17-231
,
38-211
).
Title 17,
Chapter 3
outlines the regulation of hunting and
transporting of hunted animals. A person in this state cannot take wildlife
without a valid license or a Commission-approved proof of purchase. A person
must carry the license or proof of purchase and produce it on request to any
game ranger, wildlife manager or peace officer (
A.R.S. � 17-331
).
Provisions
1.
Requires AZGFD
issue a landowner a permit for the taking of Mexican wolves on:
a.
the
landowner's private land; and
b.
public and State
Trust lands leased to the landowner for grazing purposes. (Sec. 1)
2.
Stipulates AZGFD
may only issue a permit to a lessee that owns private land in the state. (Sec.
1)
3.
Allows AZGFD
to adopt rules to establish a voluntary compensated incentive program for the
humane and non-lethal trapping of Mexican wolves that would otherwise be taken
pursuant to this act. (Sec. 1)
4.
Requires AZGFD
to issue a permit if the Commission determines one is necessary to reduce
conflicts between Mexican wolves and humans and property. (Sec. 1)
5.
Requires
AZGFD issue a permit to provide sport hunting opportunities consistent with
AZGFD rules. (Sec. 1)
6.
7.
8.
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9.
Initials CW/RS��������������� HB
2159
10.
2/24/2026� Page 0 House
Engrossed
11.
12.
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Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB2159 - 572R - H Ver
House Engrossed
Mexican wolves;
landowner permits; rules
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HOUSE BILL 2159
AN
ACT
Amending title 17, chapter 3, ARTICLE 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 17-321; RELATING to the
taking of wildlife.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 17, chapter 3, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 17-321, to read:
START_STATUTE
17-321.
Private lands; taking of Mexican wolves; landowner permits; rules
A. The department shall issue to a
landowner a landowner permit for the taking of mexican wolves on the following:
1. the landowner's private land.
2. public lands as defined in section
37-901 and state trust lands that are leased to the landowner for grazing
purposes. the department may issue the permit only to a lessee that
owns private land in this state.
b. The department may adopt rules to
establish a voluntary and compensated incentive program for the humane and
non-lethal trapping of mexican wolves that would otherwise be taken pursuant to
this section.
C. The department shall issue a
landowner permit if the COMMISSION DETERMINES that the permit is necessary to
reduce CONFLICTS between mexican wolves and humans and between mexican wolves
and property and to provide sport HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES CONSISTENT with rules
adopted by the department.
END_STATUTE