HJR 15-WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS  9:48:05 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15, Urging the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources, division of forestry and fire protection, the Department of Public Safety, municipalities of the state and relevant wildfire planning and response agencies, and the Alaska delegation in Congress to prepare for the 2025 wildfire season. 9:48:30 AM CO-CHAIR MEARS moved to adopt the proposed Committee Substitute (CS) to HJR 15, Version 34-LS0726\G, Dunmire, 4/6/25, as the working document. REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected. 9:49:01 AM CORBIN MORRISON, Staff, Representative Ky Holland, Alaska State Legislature, summarized the explanation of changes to HJR 15 from a written explanation of changes [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Page 1, line 9: Deleted "immediate and severe." and added "Increased" to better fit the tone of Resolution. Page 1, line 10: Added "Southeast Alaska" to list of high-risk places. Page 1, lines 13-15: Deleted "whereas" language. Page 2, lines 7-8: Deleted "a demonstrated need for?additional and added "community concern about there being sufficient?adoption of." Page 2, line 10: Deleted "effective" and added "broad." Page 2, line 11: Deleted "which could include expansion of public education programs" and added "engaging the public to learn about and take action through programs." Page 2, line 12: Deleted "engaging residents in annual inspections and preparation through a program like." Page 2, line 13: Deleted "coordinating" and added "and other local agencies." Page 2, line 14: Deleted "other interagency coordination efforts" and added "agencies." Page 2, lines 27-31: Deleted "; conducting full reviews of available response equipment, joint response agreements, ad water resources; identifying opportunities for additional water storage and access points; and inspecting and treating aircraft landing zones and roadways, especially those that are single- access routes to large." and added ", with special attention to single-access routes to isolated" to better encompass firefighting response goals. Page 3, line 1: Deleted "clear road and" and added "evaluating and removing." Page 3, lines 5-10: Deleted "the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources, division of 6 forestry and fire protection, and relevant municipal and local agencies to expand public 7 outreach and education by implementing a statewide public awareness campaign on wildfire risks and prevention strategies, which may include engaging residents and local fire departments in a program like Firewise USA, inspections, and to be prepared for and evacuation preparedness using the ; and promoting wildfire preparedness by launching an early detection campaign, promoting the program" and added " local and state public information officers, in collaboration 5 with state and federal agencies, to assist and encourage all Alaskans to learn about the potential for wildfires and changing exposure in their community including areas in designated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas and to urge residents to learn about and take action to protect their homes and property through home defense programs including the Firewise USA program, and to be prepared for evacuation using the Ready, Set, Go! Program, and learn about and enroll in." Page 3, lines 16-17: Deleted "by organizing and fundi multi agency tabletop exercises and live wildfire evacuation drills before May 1, 2025." Page 3, line 23: Deleted "securing additional" and added "stationing." Page 3, line 23-25: Deleted "and stationing those assets?establishing new water reservoirs?existing." 9:51:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND, as prime sponsor, thanked Representatives Hall and Ruffridge, as well as their staff, for their support and involvement on Version G. 9:52:13 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked about tabletop drills and whether there is adequate time to accomplish this. REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND said the new language attempts to accommodate that point by removing the May 1, 2025, deadline. 9:55:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX commented on the importance of increasing preparedness in each member's respective district. He removed his objection. There being no further objection, Version G was adopted. 9:56:51 AM The committee took a brief at-ease at 9:57 a.m. 9:57:01 AM CO-CHAIR MEARS moved to report CSHJR 15, Version 34-LS0726\G, Dunmire, 4/6/25, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHJR 15(CRA) was reported out of the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.