HB 2182 Summary

• Establishes the livestock operator fire and flood assistance grant program under the Arizona Department of Agriculture to provide grants to landowners and livestock operation lessees with more than 40 animals for infrastructure projects damaged by wildfires and associated flooding.

• Limits grants to 50% of project costs with a maximum of $250,000 per livestock operation per wildfire event, and restricts the department from awarding more than 50% of annual fund monies for projects in a single county.

• Requires the department to develop grant guidelines and criteria, conduct public notice and 60-day comment periods, and submit annual reports to the governor and legislature on fund disposition.

• Creates the livestock operator fire and flood assistance fund consisting of federal monies, state appropriations, and public and private grants and donations, with up to 5% available for program administration.

• Exempts the department from standard rulemaking procedures under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 41, Chapter 6 when implementing the grant program, and declares the act an emergency measure effective immediately.