Arizona Bill Extends OHV Study Committee until May 31, 2025

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.

SB1055 – 562R – S Ver

Senate Engrossed

off-highway vehicle study committee; extension

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

SENATE BILL 1055

An Act

amendingLaws 2022, chapter 148, section 1; relating to the off-highway vehiclestudy 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 isamended to read:

Section 1. Arizona off-highway vehicle study committee; membership; duties;report; delayed repeal

A. The Arizona off-highway vehicle studycommittee is established consisting of the following members:

1. Two members of the senate who are appointed bythe president of the senate and who are members of different politicalparties. The president of the senate shall designate one of thesemembers to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

2. Two members of the house of representatives whoare appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who aremembers of different political parties. The speaker of the house ofrepresentatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairpersonof the committee.

3. The director of the Arizona game and fishdepartment or the director’s designee.

4. The director of the department of transportationor the director’s designee.

5. The director of the Arizona state parks board orthe director’s designee.

6. The commissioner of the state land department orthe commissioner’s designee.

7. One law enforcement officer who enforces off-highwayvehicle laws and who is appointed by the governor.

8. One representative of an organizationrepresenting hunting or fishing or a similar outdoor sports activity in thisstate who is appointed by the governor.

9. Two members who represent an off-highwayvehicle organization or recreational group in this state. One member shall beappointed by the president of the senate and one member shall be appointed bythe speaker of the house of representatives.

10. One representative of an off-highwayvehicle rental company in this state who is appointed by the president of thesenate.

11. One representative of an off-highwayvehicle manufacturer or retailer in this state who is appointed by the speakerof the house of representatives.

12. One representative of the farming andagriculture industry in this state who is appointed by the governor.

13. Two members of the public who are knowledgeableabout outdoor recreation issues in this state and about trails used by off-highwayvehicle operators. The president of the senate shall appoint thesemembers. One of the members shall represent holders of federal grazing permitsor other land use permits.

B. Appointed members serve at the pleasure of theperson who made the appointment.

C. Committee members are not eligible to receivecompensation, but members who are appointed by the governor are eligible forreimbursement of expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona RevisedStatutes.

D. The committee shall:

1. Meet to collect and study information from thepublic and stakeholders regarding off-highway vehicle issues in this state.

2. On or before January 1 of each year, submit areport regarding the committee’s activities and recommendations foradministrative or legislative action to the governor, the president of thesenate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy ofthis report to the secretary of state.

E. This section is repealed from and after May 31, 2024 2025.