REFERENCE TITLE: agricultural operations; energy projects; compensation

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

2025

 

 

 

HB 2717

 

Introduced by

Representatives Gillette: Biasiucci, Bliss, Diaz, Kupper, Marshall, Peņa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending title 44, arizona revised statutes, by adding chapter 30; relating to solar and wind energy.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 44, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding chapter 30, to read:

CHAPTER 30

SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

START_STATUTE44-7251. Solar or wind energy projects; agriculture operations; agricultural lessees; compensation; definition

A. A business may not contract or subcontract with a resident of this state or a business in this state to construct a solar or wind energy project that reduces the size of an agricultural lessee's agricultural operation unless the business compensates the agricultural lessee for all of the following:

1. The agricultural lessee's loss of profits.

2. The value of an executed conservation measure.

3. The loss in value of the agricultural lessee's agricultural operation.

4. The cost to relocate the agricultural lessee's agricultural operation.

5. The cost to mitigate losses due to the reduction of the agricultural lessee's agricultural operation.

B. Before a business may compensate an agricultural lessee for the expenses as prescribed in subsection A of this section, the agricultural lessee shall provide to the business credible evidence that certifies the amount of the expenses.

C. For the purposes of this section, "Agricultural lessee" means a lessee of state lands that are leased for agricultural purposes pursuant to title 37, chapter 2, article 4 or a lessee of federal lands that are leased for agricultural purposes. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Legislative intent

The legislature intends to protect the agricultural operations in this state and to ensure that agricultural lessees are compensated if a business constructs a solar or wind energy construction project that reduces the size of the agricultural lessee's agricultural operation.