HB 2406 would remove the election requirement for cities and counties to access water infrastructure financing through WIFA. Mayor & Council supported a similar bill last session. While we were successful in getting an exception to the election requirement for funds allocated through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for five years, this bill would make the repeal of the requirement permanent for all funds WIFA allocates across Arizona.

HB 2519, sponsored by Tucson-area Rep. Stahl Hamilton and co-sponsored by other area members including Leader Cano and Reps. Gutierrez and Mathis, and Sens. Sundareshan, Gabaldon and Gowan, would establish an "Agrivoltaics Study Committee" in Arizona. The committee would assess agrivoltaics' "potential to increase crop production, reduce water consumption, and improve renewable energy production" and submit a report to state leaders by January 1, 2025. "Agrivoltaics" is defined as "simultaneous use of areas of land for both solar photovoltaic power generation and agriculture. The coexistence of solar panels and crops implies a sharing of light between these two types of production, so the design of agrivoltaic facilities may require trading off such objectives as optimizing crop yield, crop quality, and energy production. However, in some cases crop yield increases due to the shade of the solar panels mitigating some of the stress on plants caused by high temperatures and UV damage." According to Rep. Stahl Hamilton, "agrivoltaics" holds promise to address these integrated natural resources issues in Arizona and during a period of increasing heat due to climate change. Mayor & Council have historically supported efforts to increase water efficiency and renewable energy production.

HB 2598 would appropriate $500,000 to the UA Cooperative Extension to support the Agricultural Workforce Development Program. As discussed at the February 22nd Mayor & Council meeting, the Program provides assistance to area urban agriculture efforts, school gardening, and local food promotional efforts, and it is supported by the Pima County Food Alliance. Mayor & Council have adopted a comprehensive urban agriculture ordinance that support similar efforts, as well as supported state appropriations to the UA Cooperative Extension. Recommended by CM Dahl.

HB 2793, sponsored by Tucson-area Rep. Chris Mathis, would require the sale and installation of water-efficient "Water Sense Labeled Plumbing Fixtures" in Arizona by 2025. This requirement would be similar to conservation-related measures being considered by the City of Tucson. The bill would also allow plumbing retailers to sell any inventory they have as long as they can demonstrate that the fixture was in their inventory prior to 2025. Mayor & Council supported similar legislation in previous years sponsored by former Rep. and Sen. Kirsten Engel.

SB 1079 would remove the requirement for voter approval when a city enters into a water infrastructure financing agreement with WIFA. Mayor & Council supported this same bill last session, and we were successful in getting an exemption from the requirement for federal BIL funds for a five-year period. SB 1079 would remove the election requirement altogether. WIFA funding is an important component of how Tucson can access federal funds to address PFAS groundwater contamination.

SB 1310 would appropriate $500,000 to the UA Cooperative Extension to support the Agricultural Workforce Development Program. As discussed at the February 22nd Mayor & Council meeting, the Program provides assistance to area urban agriculture efforts, school gardening, and local food promotional efforts, and it is supported by the Pima County Food Alliance. Mayor & Council have adopted a comprehensive urban agriculture ordinance that support similar efforts, as well as supported state appropriations to the UA Cooperative Extension. The bill was approved on February 27th in the Senate by a vote of 24-5 with 10 of 15 Republicans and all 14 Democrats in support. Recommended by CM Dahl.