Bill > HB2638

This bill extends and modifies Arizona's on-farm irrigation efficiency pilot program, which provides grants to agricultural landowners to replace flood irrigation systems with more water-efficient technologies. The program, administered by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, aims to reduce water usage from groundwater, surface water, and Colorado River water sources. Grants can be up to $1,000,000 per applicant or $1,500 per acre, but only for irrigation systems that demonstrate at least a 20% water savings compared to traditional flood irrigation. Eligible applicants must be active farmers who have been farming the proposed land for at least three of the past five years. The bill extends the program's sunset date from December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2029, and enhances reporting requirements, mandating that the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension submit a detailed annual report to legislative committees. The report must now include more comprehensive information such as the total number of applications, awarded amounts, acres involved, technology types, and specific data about water conservation. Additionally, the program establishes an on-farm irrigation efficiency fund that can accept various funding sources and allows up to 10% of funds to be used for program administration and up to $1,000,000 for irrigation efficiency research and education.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82454