AZ HB2457

Amends section 48-261 to exclude fire districts formed under the new section 48-825 from the standard district formation procedures requiring petitions and assessed valuation thresholds.

Creates an alternate formation process for fire districts in counties with populations under 500,000 persons, available only until December 31, 2027.

Allows county boards of supervisors to form fire districts with 5,000 or fewer persons by holding a hearing, revising boundaries as needed, and submitting the matter to a voter election held on one of four prescribed dates.

Requires that no single property in the proposed district boundaries contribute more than 2.5 percent of total district funding, as determined by the board of supervisors.

Fire district formation is approved upon 65 percent voter approval, after which the board of supervisors appoints three resident members to serve as the organizing board of directors until the next general election.