Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, who spearheaded the legislation, said this should end the threats to the herd that began last year after the U.S. Forest Service announced it would round up the horses in the Tonto National Forest and sell them to protect the environment in and around the river. Environmental groups sided with the federal agency.

But that provoked an outcry from horse lovers and even a lawsuit to prevent their removal.

The Forest Service agreed to back off, at least for the time being. This new law specifically authorizes the state to enter into an agreement with the federal agency where the state would effectively be in charge of managing the herd.

More to the point, Townsend said, it shields the herd from humans, well-intentioned or otherwise.

All that, Townsend said, should come to an end.

“There’s rules now that we all are going to have to abide by,” she said.

Well, not exactly.

The language of HB 2340 says the provisions take effect only if an agreement is hammered out with the Forest Service by the end of next year. But Townsend said she is convinced that will happen, noting that a Forest Service official was at Wednesday’s signing ceremony with the governor.