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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: MABS DPA 6-1-0-0 | Third Read 26-2-2-0House: APPROP DP 10-6-2-1 |
SB 1618: military affairs commission
Sponsor: Senator Gowan, LD 19
Caucus & COW
Overview
Amends the membership and duties of the Military Affairs Commission (Commission). Requires the Military Installation Fund be used for acquiring property in addition to other statutorily allowed purposes. Establishes the Military Affairs Commission Fund under the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.
History
The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) oversees military and emergency operations in Arizona by: 1) training, equipping and funding the National Guard of Arizona; 2) acquiring, maintaining and disposing of military property owned by Arizona; 3) buying, renting and leasing real property in Arizona for military purposes; 4) entering into contracts for providing emergency operations including medical services; and 5) administering the Division of Emergency Management (A.R.S. §§ 26-102, 26-305).
The purpose of the Commission is to ensure that the missions of the military installations located in Arizona are protected and can meet any future need that the U.S. faces by monitoring and making recommendations on executive, legislative, and federal actions necessary to sustain and grow the missions. The Commission's duties include: 1) advising the Governor and Legislature on issues relating to military installations and operations; 2) recommending to DEMA how to award funds from the Military Installation Fund; 3) coordinating military cooperation between federal, state and local leaders; and 4) studying issues relating to veterans and military quality of life.
The Commission currently has 18 voting members, including 12 members who live in a community where a military installation is located and who are appointed by the Governor and 6 members who represent private property interests in the area where a military installation is located. Non-voting members include: 1) the Adjutant General or their designee; 2) the State Land Commissioner or their designee; 3) a representative of a military installation commander; and 4) a representative from a federal agency involved in land issues (A.R.S. § 26-261).
Provisions
Commission Membership and Duties
1. Amends the required membership of the Commission as outlined. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires DEMA and the Office of Defense Innovation to jointly staff the Commission. (Sec. 1)
3. Directs the Commission to meet twice each year, rather than annually. (Sec. 1)
4. Instructs the Commission to provide recommendations on industries related to national defense, in addition to recommendations on military issues and the progress of the Commission as is currently outlined by statute. (Sec. 1)
5. Requires the Commission to advise the Governor and the Legislature on the operational viability of areas under the jurisdiction of any, rather than active, uniformed armed services of the U.S. or any national guard component of Arizona. (Sec. 1)
6. Requires the Commission to advise the Governor and the Legislature on any matters affecting the retention of existing and attraction of new defense-related businesses. (Sec. 1)
7. Requires the Commission to proactively recommend executive, legislative and federal actions necessary to enhance Arizona's preparedness to attract new missions, rather than respond to potential new missions. (Sec. 1)
8. Directs the Commission to proactively recommend executive, legislative and federal actions necessary to retain existing and attract new defense-related businesses. (Sec. 1)
9. Adds military families to the list of quality-of-life topics required to be studied by the Commission. (Sec. 1)
10. Requires the Commission to recommend to the Arizona Finance Authority and the Arizona Industrial Development Authority projects in Arizona that require funding and that do any of the following:
a. enhance the military value of area military installations and defense facilities;
b. provide assistance to communities that are negatively impacted by base realignments or closure or by loss of a mission for an economic development project;
c. provide assistance to communities that are positively impacted by base realignments or closure for an infrastructure project; or
d. supplement the community economic redevelopment value of a closed military installation or defense facility. (Sec. 1)
11. Mandates the Commission submit a report by September 1st of each even-numbered year to the Governor, Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives about military installations and defense-related businesses in Arizona. (Sec. 1)
12. Specifies the required aspects of the report. (Sec. 1)
13. Reorders provisions of statute pertaining to the administration of the Military Installation Fund. (Sec. 1)
14. Requires state agencies to cooperate with and assist the Commission with preparing the report and supporting an installation commander who requests assistance in preparing an evaluation of an installation based on U.S. Department of Defense standards. (Sec. 1)
Military Installation Fund
15. Requires DEMA, in conjunction with the Commission, to adopt procedures for acquiring property, in addition to procedures for receiving and evaluating applications for Military Installation Fund monies as is currently outlined by statute. (Sec. 2)
16. Directs the Commission to review each acquisition proposal and application for Military Installation Fund monies and recommend to DEMA all of the following:
a. each applicant that should be awarded monies from the Military Installation Fund;
b. the dollar amount that each applicant should be awarded from the Military Installation Fund; and
c. each acquisition, in the name of Arizona, by gift, grant, purchase or any other lawful manner, of real property, property rights and related buildings and infrastructure that is vital to the preservation or enhancement of certain military installations. (Sec. 2)
17. Adjusts the percentages of the Military Installation Fund required to be disbursed for outlined purposes. (Sec. 2)
The Military Affairs Commission Fund
18. Establishes the Military Affairs Commission Fund under DEMA. (Sec. 3)
19. Exempts monies in the Military Affairs Commission Fund from lapsing. (Sec. 3)
20. Directs the State Treasurer to invest and divest monies in the Military Affairs Commission Fund as prescribed and credits monies earned from investment to the Military Affairs Commission Fund. (Sec. 3)
Miscellaneous
21. Allows all persons serving as members of the Commission on the effective date of this act to continue to serve until the expiration of their normal terms. (Sec. 4)
22. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)
23. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 2)
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27. Initials GG SB 1618
28. 4/1/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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