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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
Arizona beef council; continuation
Purpose
Continues the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) for one year. Continues the Arizona Beef Council (Council) and the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board (Board) for eight years.
Background
The ASLD must administer all laws relating to lands owned by, belonging to and under control of Arizona and have charge and control of all lands owned by Arizona, and timber, stone, gravel and other products of such lands (A.R.S. § 37-102). The ASLD Commissioner (Commissioner) must: 1) exercise and perform all powers and duties vested in or imposed on the ASLD and prescribe such rules as are necessary to discharge those duties; 2) make long-range plans for the future use of state lands in cooperation with other state agencies, local planning authorities and political subdivisions; 3) have the authority to lease for commercial purposes and sell all land owned or held in trust by Arizona; and 4) fulfill all other statutorily prescribed duties (A.R.S. § 37-132). The ASLD is responsible for adopting rules to prescribe the procedure, method and means for the sale of state lands. An ASLD representative must attend at the time and place fixed for the sale and proceed by first announcing information relevant to the sale sufficient to begin the bidding process, then calling for bids and finally, selling the lands for the highest and best bid (A.R.S. § 37-238).
Laws 1970, Chapter 87 established the Council to provide the cattle industry with authority to establish a self-financed program to help market, develop, maintain and expand the state, national and foreign markets for beef and beef products. The Council consists of nine members that include: 1) three producers of range cattle; 2) three cattle feeders; and 3) three dairymen. Members are appointed by the Governor to serve a three-year term without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for subsistence and travel. The primary duty of the Council is to enhance the demand for and profitability of beef through state-level marketing, scientific research, consumer education and industry information programs (A.R.S. §§ 3-1232 and 3-1233).
The Board consists of nine members that include: 1) five licensed veterinarians who have an established practice location in Arizona or are employed by a university or political subdivision and have resided and practiced in Arizona for at least five years immediately preceding appointment, with no more than three veterinarians having attended the same veterinary college; 2) two non-veterinarian members that represent the general public; 3) one non-veterinarian member that represents the livestock industry; and 4) one certified veterinary technician who has held the designation for at least five years, is currently employed in the veterinary field in Arizona and has practiced and resided in Arizona for at least five years immediately preceding appointment. Members are appointed by the Governor to serve four-year terms. The primary duty of the Board is to protect the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified, impaired or unprofessional practitioners of veterinary medicine through licensure and regulation of the profession in Arizona (A.R.S. §§ 32-2202 and 32-2207)
The Senate
Natural Resources Committee of Reference (COR) held a public meeting on
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, to review and consider the Council's responses to
the statutorily outlined sunset review factors and Tuesday, January 20, 2026,
to review the Auditor General's performance audit and sunset review reports on
the Board and the ASLD. The COR recommended that the Council and Board be
continued for eight years until July 1, 2034, the ASLD be continued for four
years, until July 1, 2030 and that the ASLD return to the Legislature with a
report on the additional recommendations within two years. The ASLD, Council and
Board terminate on July 1, 2026, unless continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. § §
41-3026.02;
41-3026.02;
and 41-3026.05).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2026, the Council and Board for four years until July 1, 2034.
2. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2026, the ASLD for one year until July 1, 2027.
3. Repeals the Council and Board on January 1, 2035.
4. Repeals the ASLD on January 1, 2028.
5. Prohibits the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) from directing the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit on the ASLD.
6. Repeals the prescribed performance audit prohibition on January 1, 2028.
7. Contains purpose statements.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactive provision as noted.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
1. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2026, the Board for four years until July 1, 2034.
2. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2026, the ASLD for one year until July 1, 2027.
3. Repeals the Board on January 1, 2035.
4. Repeals the ASLD on January 1, 2028.
5. Prohibits JLBC from directing the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit on the ASLD.
6. Repeals the prescribed performance audit prohibition on January 1, 2028.
7. Adds purpose statements.
Senate Action House Action
NR 1/27/26 DP 7-0-1 LARA 3/23/26 DPA 4-3-1-0
3rd Read 2/12/26 23-6-1 3rd Read 6/11/26 48-7-5
Prepared by Senate Research
June 12, 2026
SB/NG/hk