Mexican wolves; landowner permits; rules

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on funding, consequences of non-compliance, and exact compensation amounts for the incentive program.

Mexican Wolves; Landowner Permits

This bill requires the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to issue permits for landowners to take Mexican wolves on private or leased lands, and allows AZGFD to create a voluntary incentive program for humane trapping of these wolves.

What This Bill Does

• Requires AZGFD to give permits to landowners who want to remove Mexican wolves from their private property or public lands they lease for grazing.
• Limits the permit issuance to lessees who own private land in Arizona.
• Allows AZGFD to make rules for a voluntary program that pays people to trap Mexican wolves humanely and without killing them.
• Requires AZGFD to issue permits if the Commission decides it's necessary to reduce conflicts between Mexican wolves and humans or property, or to provide hunting opportunities as allowed by AZGFD rules.

Who It Names or Affects

• Landowners who have private land or lease public lands for grazing.
• The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).
• Mexican wolves in areas where permits are issued.

Terms To Know

Commission

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission, which sets rules for managing wildlife.

Lessee

A person who leases land from another party.

Limits and Unknowns

• It is unclear how the program will be funded.
• The bill does not specify what happens if a permit holder fails to follow rules or guidelines set by AZGFD.
• Details about compensation for humane trapping are left up to AZGFD's discretion.

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

Caucus
& COW

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.

2/13/2026� Page 0 Caucus
& COW

11.

12.

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Current 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