The bill amends the law governing fire protection districts outside of cities and towns by introducing new requirements for their establishment and assessment. It mandates that a ballot measure must be approved before a fire protection district can be created, ensuring that the decision reflects the will of the qualified electors in the proposed district. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the value of real property within the fire protection district must match the value determined by the county assessor, thereby standardizing property assessments for the purpose of fire protection services.

Key changes include the deletion of previous provisions that allowed for the establishment of fire protection districts through petitions and ordinances without a public vote. The bill also modifies the assessment process by requiring that the board appoints assessors who will assess benefits based on the market value set by the county assessor. This ensures a more equitable and transparent approach to property valuation within fire protection districts, aligning local governance with the interests of property owners.

Statutes affected:
HB 1528: 14-284-203, 14-284-204, 7-9-109, 14-284-212(b)