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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: NREW DPA 6-4-0-0 |
HB 2975: state lands; solar score; maps
Sponsor: Representative Heap, LD 10
Caucus & COW
Overview
Prohibits the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) from using solar evaluators, requires ASLD to develop new resource scoring maps and sets guidelines for the creation and adoption of new maps.
History
Established in 1915, ASLD currently manages approximately 9.2 million acres of State Trust lands. ASLD administers laws related to lands owned by, belonging to and under control of the state, which includes both trust land and sovereign land. ASLD also manages and controls the products and uses of state land including timber, stone, gravel, grazing and farming (A.R.S. § 37-102)(ASLD).
In 2025, the Governor signed Executive Order 2025-13, which directed ASLD to deliver a report describing the standard leasing process with timelines for energy-related leases and opportunities to streamline ASLD processes, to expand energy infrastructure on state lands. ASLD currently accepts solar project applications and offers long-term commercial leases for solar energy projects. Solar leases have typically been written for 30 years and solar improvements must be removed upon expiration of the lease. ASLD operates a public mapping system to educate applicants on the suitability of a State Trust land parcel for solar development (ASLD).
Provisions
1. Requires ASLD to suspend the use of solar scores or other solar evaluators notwithstanding any other law. (Sec. 1)
2. Prohibits the State Land Commissioner (Commissioner) from using solar scores or other solar evaluators in ASLD 's decision making. (Sec. 1)
3. Mandates ASLD develop mining and housing resource scoring maps that take development into consideration within two years. (Sec. 1)
4. Directs ASLD to cooperate with stakeholders to create and update the resource scoring maps. (Sec. 1)
5. Allows ASLD, during the stakeholder process, to consider comments only from the applicable industry when updating the resource scoring maps. (Sec. 1)
6. Requires the Commissioner to consider the resource scoring maps when creating ASLD's conceptual land use plans and five-year disposition plans. (Sec. 1)
7. Directs the Commissioner to submit a copy of the updated resource scoring maps to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of State. (Sec. 1)
Amendments
Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water
1. Requires the Commissioner to develop resource scoring maps at least every ten years or at the Commissioner's discretion.
2. Instructs ASLD to post each resource scoring map on ASLD's website.
3. Includes an applicability clause.
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Initials CW/IG HB 2975
2/13/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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