House Bill 2024 proposes to amend the current allocation of funds from the State Lottery Fund (SLF). The bill seeks to deposit $50,000,000 from the SLF into the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Fund in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This transfer is to occur after other statutorily authorized appropriations and deposits have been made. The On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Fund, which is managed by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, aims to assist Arizona farmers and ranchers in transitioning to more efficient water irrigation systems and to reduce the use of flood irrigation or fallowing.

The bill includes technical and conforming changes to the existing law and will become effective on the general effective date. It specifies the amounts to be deposited into various funds and programs from the SLF, including the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Heritage Fund, the Department of Child Safety, the Arizona Board of Regents, the Department of Health Services, and the Disease Control Research Fund. The bill also adjusts the allocation of monies based on the GDP price deflator and exempts these allocations from lapsing of appropriations. Any remaining monies in the SLF after the outlined appropriations and deposits are to be deposited into the state General Fund.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5-572
House Engrossed Version: 5-572