Garfield County Commissioners Warn HB 48 Wildfire Map Could Harm Insurability

On Jan. 26 the Garfield County Commission voiced strong concerns about HB 48, a state bill that would change wildfire-risk mapping and create new prevention obligations for property owners.

“...If you have to go buy an insurance policy, this map could make you ineligible to get insurance,” Chair (Speaker 1) said, urging legislators to attach a delayed effective date and additional study before it takes effect.

Commissioners and attendees raised multiple practical worries: the map could broaden mandatory vegetation-clearing requirements adjacent to federal lands, complicate rebuilding and borrowing for high-value structures, and force property owners to obtain costly insurance or face loss of insurability. Speaker 3 warned that the bill’s mapping approach could “destroy our secondary home market in the mountains,” which commissioners said is a significant local tax base.

County leaders urged residents to alert commission staff to specific bill language they find troubling so staff can analyze potential impacts and lobby state lawmakers. Chair (Speaker 1) recommended pairing the map with a phased-in implementation period and additional study to allow counties and federal land managers time to address the practical implications.

The commission’s discussion did not result in a formal vote on a resolution, but members recorded unanimous opposition sentiment and instructed staff to track the bills and brief the commission on fiscal and insurance implications.