Western Growers took the lead for Arizona agriculture in 2025, authoring legislation to directly solve issues for specialty crop growers. Success was found with a first-of- its-kind bill enabling the future of specialty crop agriculture to thrive in Arizona. SB 1320 (Dunn) In response to an inquiry from Sen. Tim Dunn during the 2024 Desert AgTech Conference in Yuma, Western Growers staff worked with industry stakeholders to author legislation ensuring the legal operation of autonomous agriculture vehicles in Arizona. This first-in-the-nation legislation modified the definition of an “Implement of Husbandry,” ensuring all equipment or vehicles used within the specialty crop industry that use an automated driving system, or that are completely autonomous, can operate legally on public roadways and highways. The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support from both the Arizona Senate and House and received a quick signature from Governor Katie Hobbs. To further stress the importance of this legislation, Gov. Hobbs held a bill signing ceremony in November, celebrating this historic piece of legislation, along with SB 1661, which established a governance framework of ag-specific broadband networks, and a $6 million ARPA grant to install broadband network towers covering 160,000 acres in the Yuma region. HB 2202 (Griffin) WG also worked with Sen. Gail Griffin to find a solution for specialty crop growers – particularly those with center-pivot irrigation – who are now within newly formed active management areas. WG-authored HB 2202 would have permitted the irrigation of adjacent land, that was not previously irrigated, upon a determination of irrigation grandfathered rights by the ADWR. HB 2202 was meant to “draw in the corners” for previously center-pivot irrigated lands if the land owner wanted to transition to a row crop or orchard. HB 2202 passed on party-line votes in both the House and Senate and was unfortunately vetoed by the Governor.
SB 1407 (Dunn) Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) faces a distinct disadvantage within the agriculture community – it is often seen as a cash cow by local governments. In an effort to bring tax parity to CEAs and greenhouses, WG authored legislation to be valued and assessed as agricultural tangible personal property. Understanding the intricacies of tax assessment and the need for specificity, SB 1407 required greenhouses to be composed of movable and detachable components used for growing and processing specialty crops. Unfortunately, political and financial headwinds during the session did not enable the legislation to proceed beyond a positive committee hearing in the Senate. Hopefully in the coming years another attempt will be possible to address the inequities in property tax for these critical facilities. HB 2638 (Griffin) Western Growers once again enthusiastically supported the continuation of the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program. HB 2638 extends the life of the on-farm irrigation pilot program by three years to Dec. 31, 2029. Administered by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, this program has resulted in substantial investment in irrigation efficiencies, saving millions of gallons of water throughout Arizona’s specialty crop growing regions.
Government Affairs, Arizona Dedicated to Tackling the Unique Challenges Facing Arizona Agriculture.
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