State Representative Cody Reim (R-AZ) is drawing a hard line against plans to significantly reduce one of Arizona's most iconic wild horse herds, arguing that government agencies are moving too fast without the science to back it up.
The rural Arizona legislator has emerged as the driving force behind legislation that would pause the removal of horses from the Salt River herd for three years, buying time for researchers to determine the herd's actual population size needed to stay healthy.
The urgency, Rep. Reim says, is real. The group currently contracted to manage the herd is facing pressure to remove up to 150 horses beginning this year, a number Reim describes as arbitrary.
"These horses are a cherished part of Arizona's heritage, and Arizonans have made it clear they do not want them rounded up and removed to satisfy arbitrary population targets," he said. "This bill protects the herd and keeps these horses where they belong."
Senate Bill 1199
The measure, SB 1199, applies to horses living within the Salt River Horse Management Area inside the Tonto National Forest. Under the bill, as Reim amended it, removals would only be permitted for genuine medical or veterinary needs, not population control, while a peer-reviewed genetic diversity study is completed.
Representative Pamela Carter (R-AZ) added an emergency clause to the bill, meaning protections would take effect immediately upon Governor Katie Hobbs's (D-AZ) signature, rather than waiting through the standard legislative timeline.
Rep. Carter pointed to what she called a missed opportunity by state agriculture officials. "The Department of Agriculture has acknowledged it can amend its contract with the management group at any time, including right now, to stop additional removals," she said, adding that the department's inaction made the emergency clause essential.
For Reim, the bill comes down to a question of values and who government is supposed to serve. "I was sent here to protect Arizona's communities, values, and heritage," he said. "SB 1199 gives us time to pursue a responsible path that supports the herd's long-term health."
The legislation now awaits the governor's signature.
