unlawful camping; stock; wildlife; access

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers but failed a final House third read; this creates uncertainty about whether it became law.

HB2197: Changes to Rules on Camping Near Water Sources

This bill changes how close people can camp near natural or man-made watering spots and sets a penalty for breaking the rule.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the distance limit from one-fourth mile to three hundred yards between campsites and water sources.
• Removes the requirement that camping must block access to the only reasonable available water before it is considered unlawful.
• Makes it illegal for a person to camp within 300 yards of a watering hole if domestic stock could be denied access.
• Creates a new law stating that breaking this rule is a class 2 misdemeanor.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who want to set up campsites near natural water holes or man-made watering facilities.
• Owners of domestic livestock, such as cattle or horses, that rely on these water sources.

Terms To Know

Domestic stock

Farm animals like cows, sheep, goats, or horses raised by people.

Class 2 misdemeanor

A type of minor crime that can result in fines or jail time under Arizona law.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill text shows the House third read failed, so it is unclear if this version became final law.
• No effective date is listed in the provided source material.

Official Summary Text

HB2197 - 572R - House Bill Summary

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House
: LARA DPA 6-1-0-1

HB
2197
: unlawful camping; stock; wildlife; access

Sponsor:
Representative Bliss, LD 1

Caucus
& COW

Overview

Strikes
a condition relating to the location of a campsite that, if met, would make
said campsite unlawful.

History

Currently, it is unlawful for a person to camp within 1/4th mile
of a natural water hole containing water or a man-made watering facility containing
water in such a place that wildlife or domestic stock will be denied access to
the only reasonable available water (
A.R.S. � 17-308
).

Provisions

1.

Removes a
condition that, if met, would prohibit a person from camping near watering
holes and/or watering facilities. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on
Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

1.

Prohibits a
person from camping within 300 yards of a natural water hole or man-made
watering facility in a location that domestic stock could be denied access. (Sec.
1)

2.

Asserts that
anyone who violates this is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor. (Sec. 1)

3.

Modifies the distance in existing
unlawful camping statute to 300 yards from 1/4 mile. (Sec. 1, 2)

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

Initials CW��������������������� HB
2197

2/13/2026� Page 0 Caucus
& COW

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

Current Bill Text

HB2197 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

unlawful camping;
stock; wildlife; access

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2197

AN
ACT

amending title 13, chapter 29, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 13-2931; amending section 17-308,
Arizona Revised Statutes; RELATING to water access.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 13, chapter 29, Arizona
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-2931, to read:

START_STATUTE
13-2931.

Unlawful camping; classification

A. It is unlawful for a person to
camp within three hundred yards of a natural water hole containing water or a
man-made watering facility containing water in such a place that domestic stock
could be denied access.

B. A person who violates this section
is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 17-308, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
17-308.

Unlawful camping

It is unlawful for a person to camp within
one-fourth
mile

three hundred yards
of a natural water hole
containing water or a man-made watering facility containing water in such
a place that wildlife
or domestic stock will

could
be denied access
to the only reasonably
available water
.
END_STATUTE