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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
appropriation; agriculture; brand inspectors
Purpose
Appropriates $957,175 and five full-time equivalent (FTE) positions from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2026 to the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) for three livestock inspectors, one veterinary assistant and one veterinary technician.
Background
The AZDA consists of six divisions, including the Animal Services Division which is responsible for milk, dairy, livestock and aquaculture regulation, the state veterinarian, meat, poultry and egg inspection and performing the administrative functions authorized or contracted for the Arizona Beef Council (A.R.S. § 3-102).
The Associate Director of the AZDA, with the approval of the Director of the AZDA and after consulting with the division council, must employ a state veterinarian who must be a skilled veterinarian who is a graduate of a recognized school of veterinary medicine and licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Arizona (A.R.S. § 3-1211).
Livestock officers and inspectors must inspect livestock, other than equine and livestock subject to authorized self-inspection, for health, marks and brands at loading stations, at places of exit from the state and at places where livestock are gathered to be sold, slaughtered, transported, conveyed, shipped or driven from their range for any purpose whatsoever except when livestock are being moved from pasture to a destination in this state and no change of ownership, slaughter or other disposition is involved and the owner is utilizing self-inspection (A.R.S. 3-1332).
Livestock means cattle, sheep, goats, and swine (A.A.C. R3-2-702).
H.B. 2544 appropriates $957,175 and five FTEs from the state GF in FY 2026 to the AZDA for three livestock inspectors, one veterinary assistant and one veterinary technician.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $957,175 and five FTEs in FY 2026 from the state GF to the AZDA for:
a) three livestock inspectors;
b) one veterinary assistant; and
c) one veterinary technician.
2. Declares the Legislatures intent that $532,725 and five FTE positions of the appropriations be considered ongoing funding in future years.
3. Makes conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
LARA 2/17/25 DPA 7-2-0-0
3rd Read 3/5/25 49-9-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 14, 2025
SB/SN/ci