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Arizona bill protecting utilities from wildfire-related lawsuits reworked

Wildfire

Wildfires are becoming more and more common in the Eastern U.S., and researchers are still trying to figure out exactly how and why. 

PHOENIX -- A sweeping measure passed by the Arizona House giving utilities like Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power major protections from lawsuits for wildfires sparked by their equipment was stripped of the most contentious provisions in a state Senate committee hearing on Monday, the panel's chairman said.

Finance Committee chairman Sen. J.D. Mesnard told Capitol Media Services on Friday that the amendment he has crafted will remove provisions sought by the utilities requiring people or companies who sue over wildfire damages to prove by "clear and convincing" evidence that the utilities were at fault. That’s a much higher level of proof than what is normally required in civil lawsuits.





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