HB2865 is a bill that proposes significant changes to the administration of Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCDs) in Arizona. The bill seeks to transfer oversight from the Arizona State Land Commissioner to a newly established Arizona State NRCD Board, which will be composed of appointed members and representatives from various state agencies. The Board will be responsible for holding public hearings, adopting rules, and assisting NRCDs with conservation plans and federal cooperation. Additionally, the bill creates the NRCD Fund for awarding grants to NRCDs and Soil and Water Conservation Districts, with specific criteria for fund usage and a grant application process. The bill includes a sunset clause for the Board, terminating it on July 1, 2032.

The bill repeals sections 37-1011 and 37-1012, renumbers sections from Title 37, Chapter 6 to Title 41, Chapter 58, and modifies the allocation of fees from environmental special plates. It also updates the composition and duties of the state natural resource conservation board, establishes the natural resource conservation district fund, and specifies the process for creating a district. The bill introduces gender-neutral language, updates section references, modifies nominating petition requirements for district supervisors, and expands the powers of districts. Furthermore, it clarifies that the chapter does not affect existing water rights or contravene the provisions of title 37, and outlines the transition process from the state land commissioner to the board, effective December 31, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 28-2413, 37-1011, 37-1012, 41-3032.01, 41-6002, 41-6011, 41-6012, 41-6013, 41-6014, 41-6031, 41-6032, 41-6033, 41-6034, 41-6035, 41-6036, 41-6037, 41-6038, 41-6039, 41-6040, 41-6051, 41-6052, 41-6053, 41-6054, 41-6055, 43-1084, 45-2103, 45-2106, 49-1335, 28-2402, 35-146, 35-147, 28-6991, 37-1015, 37-1001, 41-6001, 37-1002, 37-1013, 37-1014, 37-1031, 37-1032, 37-1033, 37-1034, 37-1035, 37-1036, 37-1037, 37-1038, 37-1039, 37-1040, 37-1051, 37-1052, 37-1053, 37-1054, 37-1055, 37-1056, 41-6056, 37-1057, 41-6057, 38-611, 41-192, 35-190, 35-313, 37-215, 43-1042, 45-2105
House Engrossed Version: 28-2413, 37-1011, 37-1012, 41-3032.01, 41-6002, 41-6011, 41-6012, 41-6013, 41-6014, 41-6031, 41-6032, 41-6033, 41-6034, 41-6035, 41-6036, 41-6037, 41-6038, 41-6039, 41-6040, 41-6051, 41-6052, 41-6053, 41-6054, 41-6055, 43-1084, 45-2103, 45-2106, 49-1335, 28-2402, 35-146, 35-147, 28-6991, 37-1015, 37-1001, 41-6001, 37-1002, 37-1013, 37-1014, 37-1031, 37-1032, 37-1033, 37-1034, 37-1035, 37-1036, 37-1037, 37-1038, 37-1039, 37-1040, 37-1051, 37-1052, 37-1053, 37-1054, 37-1055, 37-1056, 41-6056, 37-1057, 41-6057, 38-611, 41-192, 35-190, 35-313, 37-215, 43-1042, 45-2105
Senate Engrossed Version: 28-2413, 37-1011, 37-1012, 41-3032.01, 41-6002, 41-6011, 41-6012, 41-6013, 41-6014, 41-6031, 41-6032, 41-6033, 41-6034, 41-6035, 41-6036, 41-6037, 41-6038, 41-6039, 41-6040, 41-6051, 41-6052, 41-6053, 41-6054, 41-6055, 43-1084, 45-2103, 45-2106, 49-1335, 28-2402, 35-146, 35-147, 28-6991, 37-1015, 37-1001, 41-6001, 37-1002, 37-1013, 37-1014, 37-1031, 37-1032, 37-1033, 37-1034, 37-1035, 37-1036, 37-1037, 37-1038, 37-1039, 37-1040, 37-1051, 37-1052, 37-1053, 37-1054, 37-1055, 37-1056, 41-6056, 37-1057, 41-6057, 38-611, 35-190, 35-313, 37-215, 43-1042, 45-2105
Chaptered Version: 28-2413, 37-1011, 37-1012, 41-3032.01, 41-6002, 41-6011, 41-6012, 41-6013, 41-6014, 41-6031, 41-6032, 41-6033, 41-6034, 41-6035, 41-6036, 41-6037, 41-6038, 41-6039, 41-6040, 41-6051, 41-6052, 41-6053, 41-6054, 41-6055, 43-1084, 45-2103, 45-2106, 49-1335, 28-2402, 35-146, 35-147, 28-6991, 37-1015, 37-1001, 41-6001, 37-1002, 37-1013, 37-1014, 37-1031, 37-1032, 37-1033, 37-1034, 37-1035, 37-1036, 37-1037, 37-1038, 37-1039, 37-1040, 37-1051, 37-1052, 37-1053, 37-1054, 37-1055, 37-1056, 41-6056, 37-1057, 41-6057, 38-611, 35-190, 35-313, 37-215, 43-1042, 45-2105