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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
conservation districts; water; invasive vegetation
Purpose
Expands the powers of the Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) to include soil health programming and surveys, investigations, research and programming relating to eradicating invasive vegetation. Allows a conservation plan to be in effect with a state NRCD to qualify for the Agricultural Water Conservation System Credit.
Background
Statute authorizes the formation of an NRCD upon a petition by 25 or more owners of land, but not less than 20 percent of the owners of the proposed district. NCRD’s statutorily prescribed duties are to provide for the restoration and conservation of our state's land and soil resources (A.R.S. Title 37, Chapter 6).
A taxpayer may claim a credit against the taxpayer’s income tax liability for purchasing and installing an agricultural water conservation system. This credit is equivalent to 75 percent of the qualifying expenses. To qualify for the program, the agricultural water conservation system must be designed to substantially conserve water that is used to produce crops, fruits, or other agricultural products, raise, harvest, or grow trees, or to sustain livestock and the expense must be consistent with a conservation plan filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (A.R.S. § 43-1084).
According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee Fiscal Note, the fiscal impact of the bill cannot be determined with certainty, but is expected to have only a small impact, if any (JLBC).
Provisions
1. Adds, to the powers of an NRCD, creating and administering a soil health program that promotes implementation of soil health practices, research projects, demonstration projects, educational projects or other activities appropriate to promote the continuing capacity for soil to function as a vital living biological system that sustains plants, animals and humans, increased soil organic matter, improved soil structure, water-holding and nutrient-holding capacity or nutrient cycling.
2. Includes surveys, investigations, and research relating to eradicating invasive vegetation in an NCRD's power to conduct surveys, investigations and research.
3. Includes methods of eradicating invasive vegetation in allowed NCRD programming in cooperation with landowners, operators, and governmental entities.
4. Adds, to the methods an NRCD is authorized to use in the organization and establishment of an education center to increase the knowledge of natural resources, increasing public awareness of:
a) water conservation statewide, including water conservation methods and best management practices; and
b) soil health practices.
5. Requires, to qualify for the Agricultural Water Conservation System Credit, a conservation plan to be filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or an NRCD, rather than the Soil Conservation Service.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Adds, to the powers of an NRCD, creating and administering a soil health program.
2. Adds increasing public awareness of soil health practices to education methods of an NRCD-established education center.
3. Makes conforming changes.
House Action Senate Action
NREW 1/12/21 DP 8-2-0-0 NREW 3/3/21 DPA 8-1-0
3rd Read 1/28/21 48-11-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 4, 2021
KN/RA/gs