HB 2858 is a bill in the Arizona legislature that will block lifesaving humane management of the Salt River wild horse herd. This includes emergency supplemental feeding in times of drought to prevent starvation and vital fertility control that is necessary to reduce population growth rates and keep the wild horses wild in the Tonto National Forest.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Kelly Townsend, introduced the original legislation to protect the Salt River horses in their historic habitat along the lower Salt River. She inexplicably refuses to amend her new bill to ensure that it does not undermine the protections and humane management authorized under the initial legislation, which was passed overwhelmingly by the Arizona Legislature and signed into law by Governor Doug Ducey in 2016. As a result, her own bill sponsor, Rep. Jay Lawrence, withdrew his support for the current bill.
HB 2858 has advanced to the Rules Committee and the members need to hear from Arizonans ASAP to ensure that the bill is either killed or amended to protect humane management.
1. Personalize and send the email below to the committee members. Let them know that as currently written, the bill presents a serious threat to the health and well being of the cherished Salt River wild horses.
2. Call committee members and say, “I am an Arizona citizen calling in opposition to HB 2858 as currently written unless amended to clarify that lifesaving humane management of the Salt River wild horse herd will be allowed to continue. Thank you.”
3. Leave a message on the Facebook page of former HB 2858 co-sponsor, Rep. Jay Lawrence, to thank him for his continued support for protecting the Salt River horses.