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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
on-farm irrigation efficiency program; continuation
Purpose
Extends the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Pilot Program (Pilot Program) from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2030. Adds to the information that must be included in the statutorily outlined written report relating to the Pilot Program.
Background
The Pilot
Program and the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Fund (Fund) were established by
the Legislature in 2022 for the purposes of providing grants and collecting
data for on-farm irrigation efficiency systems to reduce on-farm use of
groundwater, surface water, mainstream Colorado River water or water delivered
through the Central Arizona Project while minimizing or eliminating the use of
flood irrigation or fallowing to reduce on-farm use. The Fund consists of
monies from legislative appropriations, grants from federal agencies and any
other lawful source. The Fund is administered through the U of A Cooperative
Extension and monies from the Fund may be granted to qualified applicants for
acquiring and installing on-farm irrigation efficiency systems to replace or
modify flood irrigation systems. In determining whether to approve an on-farm
irrigation efficiency system application, the U of A Cooperative Extension may
give preference to a system that the U of A Cooperative Extension determines
will: 1) most
cost-effectively reduce on-farm water usage; 2) minimize energy usage to the
benefit of Arizona; and 3) maximize any other irrigable land or crops grown on
the irrigable land. The Pilot Program is repealed on January 1, 2027.
The U of A
Cooperative Extension must submit, to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President of the Senate, a written report describing
the activities of the
U of A Cooperative Extension for the preceding fiscal year related to
expenditures from the Fund by December 31 of each year, and provide a copy to
the Secretary of State. The report must include an accounting of expenditures
from the Fund, and how the monies were used and identify: 1) the specific
fields where implementation occurred; 2) the legal character of the water used
on those fields; 3) the soil type and types of crops produced; 4) the quantity
of water conserved by the implementation of the system; and 5) any other
relevant data to better inform future decisions on strategically deploying
on-farm irrigation efficiency systems or programs to more efficiently use
agricultural water in Arizona (Laws 2022, Ch. 332).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Extends the Pilot Program until January 1, 2030.
2. Requires the U of A Cooperative Extension to submit the statutorily outlined written report relating to the Pilot Program to the JLBC.
3. Requires the outlined report to include:
a) the total number of applications received and approved;
b) the total monies awarded and the total monies encumbered for per application;
c) the total acres subject to application;
d) the total number of acres subject to awarded and encumbered monies;
e) the types of proposed technology;
f) the total administrative costs of the program in the previous fiscal year;
g) the total monies saved, if the U of A Cooperative Extension achieved any administrative savings in the previous year, and a description of how the U of A Cooperative Extension used the savings to advance the purposes of the Pilot Program;
h) an overview of any monies used for irrigation efficiency demonstration, research and education; and
i) for each approved application:
i) the amount of monies awarded; and
ii) the number of acres approved.
4. Requires the U of A, within 90 days after the general effective date, to provide an aggregate report as outlined for each year since the inception of the Pilot Program.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires the U of A Cooperative Extension to submit the outlined written report relating to the Pilot Program to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
2. Outlines additional information that must be included in the in the outlined written report relating to the Pilot Program.
3. Requires the U of A Cooperative Extension, within 90 days after the general effective date, to provide an aggregate report as outlined for each year since the inception of the Pilot Program.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
House Action Senate Action
NREW 2/11/25 DP 9-0-0-1 NR 3/11/25 DP 8-0-0
3rd Read 2/20/25 58-0-2
Prepared by Senate Research
April 23, 2025
SB/SN/slp