Arizona off-highway vehicle study committee extension to 2025
Senate Bill 1055 was introduced by Republican Senator Sine Kerr, district 25, and aims to extend the duration of the Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Study Committee for an additional year.
Established in 2022 in response to OHV issues around Sedona, Arizona, the Arizona OHV Study Committee is mandated to study and gather information concerning OHV issues within the state. The committee is required to submit an annual report outlining its activities and recommendations for legislative or administrative actions that will impact use of over 24 million acres of public lands across the state.
The group consists of individuals with extreme bias towards the operation of motorized vehicles on federal lands who have openly expressed their desire to eliminate or strictly limit motorized use of existing roads. The Committee also contains “representatives” of the off-road industry and community that support and bolster Travel Management Planning and Ecotourism efforts in Arizona.
Committee members
The Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Study Committee conducts various activities and consists of members with specific roles and affiliations. Here’s an ordered list of the committee’s members:
Here is a list of committee Members:
- House Representatives:
- David L Cook (Co-Chair)
- Myron Tsosie
- Senate Members:
- Sine Kerr (Co-Chair)
- Christine Marsh
- Other Members:
- DeAnna Bindley – Sedona, Arizona Resident (public member knowledgeable about outdoor recreation issues, appointed by the President of the Senate)
- Becki Ross – Sedona, Arizona Cattle Rancher (public member knowledgeable about outdoor recreation issues, appointed by the President of the Senate)
- Chris Judson – Vice President of Polaris Off Road Utility (representative of off-highway vehicle manufacturer or retailer, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives)
- Matt Caldwell – Tread Lightly! (representative of off-highway vehicle organization or recreational group, appointed by the President of the Senate)
- J.C. Sanders – Arizona Peace Trail (representative of off-highway vehicle organization or recreational group, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives)
- Shawn Clark – Happy Trails Adventure Company of Arizona (representative of off-highway vehicle rental company, appointed by the President of the Senate)
- John Koleszar – Arizona Deer Association (representative of organization representing hunting, fishing, or similar outdoor sports activity, appointed by the Governor)
- Benny Aja – Coconino County Farm Bureau – President (representative of farming and agriculture industry, appointed by the Governor)
- Bob Broscheid (Director, Arizona State Parks Board or designee)
- Ty Gray (Director, Arizona Game and Fish Department or designee)
- David Rhodes – Yavapia County Sheriff (law enforcement officer enforcing off-highway vehicle laws, appointed by the Governor)
- Jennifer Toth (Director, Department of Transportation or designee)
- Vacant (Commissioner of the State Land Department or designee)
Provisions
- Extension of Study Committee:
- The bill extends the duration of the Study Committee until May 31, 2025, providing an additional year for the committee to fulfill its objectives.
- Effective Date:
- The bill becomes effective on the general effective date.
Call the sponsors of this Bill and your district legislators to voice your opinion
Find the Bill information here.
Senator Sine Kerr, District 25 – Phone: 602-926-5955 Email: skerr@azleg.gov
View the text of the Bill
Below is the actual text of the Bill from the State Legislature.
Senate Engrossed
off-highway vehicle study committee; extension |
State of Arizona Senate Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024
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SENATE BILL 1055 |
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An Act
amending Laws 2022, chapter 148, section 1; relating to the off-highway vehicle study committee.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Laws 2022, chapter 148, section 1 is amended to read:
Section 1. Arizona off-highway vehicle study committee; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal
A. The Arizona off-highway vehicle study committee is established consisting of the following members:
1. Two members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate and who are members of different political parties. The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.
2. Two members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who are members of different political parties. The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.
3. The director of the Arizona game and fish department or the director’s designee.
4. The director of the department of transportation or the director’s designee.
5. The director of the Arizona state parks board or the director’s designee.
6. The commissioner of the state land department or the commissioner’s designee.
7. One law enforcement officer who enforces off-highway vehicle laws and who is appointed by the governor.
8. One representative of an organization representing hunting or fishing or a similar outdoor sports activity in this state who is appointed by the governor.
9. Two members who represent an off-highway vehicle organization or recreational group in this state. One member shall be appointed by the president of the senate and one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
10. One representative of an off-highway vehicle rental company in this state who is appointed by the president of the senate.
11. One representative of an off-highway vehicle manufacturer or retailer in this state who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
12. One representative of the farming and agriculture industry in this state who is appointed by the governor.
13. Two members of the public who are knowledgeable about outdoor recreation issues in this state and about trails used by off-highway vehicle operators. The president of the senate shall appoint these members. One of the members shall represent holders of federal grazing permits or other land use permits.
B. Appointed members serve at the pleasure of the person who made the appointment.
C. Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation, but members who are appointed by the governor are eligible for reimbursement of expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.
D. The committee shall:
1. Meet to collect and study information from the public and stakeholders regarding off-highway vehicle issues in this state.
2. On or before January 1 of each year, submit a report regarding the committee’s activities and recommendations for administrative or legislative action to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.
E. This section is repealed from and after May 31, 2024 2025.