environment; 2025-2026

Added a new Agriculture and Water Innovation Fund Pilot Program to provide grants for innovative technology that improves water use efficiency through improved soil health, with grant limits of $2 million for individual applicants or $5 million for irrigation districts serving three or more farm units.

Modified the sunset date for the temporary groundwater and irrigation efficiency projects fund from March 31, 2028 to March 31, 2030.

Modified the sunset date for the fire incident management fund from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2027.

Increased appropriations for the nuclear emergency management fund from $2,617,991 to $2,667,991 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and from $2,711,339 to $2,761,339 for fiscal year 2026-2027.

Added new definitions for 'farm unit' and 'innovative technology' to clarify eligibility requirements for the agriculture and water innovation fund.

Added a new subsection to the agriculture and water innovation fund statute requiring the department to report on cobenefits arising from implementing innovative soil health technology.

Added a new reporting requirement for the agriculture and water innovation fund to include cobenefits such as yield increases, crop quality improvements, and nutrient use efficiencies.

Modified the temporary groundwater and irrigation efficiency projects fund to require proportional distribution of unencumbered monies by December 31, 2029 instead of 2027.

Modified the groundwater withdrawal fee in the Pinal active management area to extend the fee exemption for water banking purposes through December 31, 2027 instead of 2026.