Committee backs funding bill for University of Arizona extension and experiment stations

The House committee voted to return SB 17 61 with a do-pass recommendation after hearing staff and sponsor explanations and public testimony.

Staff summarized the bill’s funding schedule, saying it would appropriate money from the state general fund to the University of Arizona for several programs: $1,600,000 ongoing beginning in fiscal year 2027 for the Yuma Center for Excellence for Desert Agriculture; amounts for Cooperative Extension quoted as $2,700,000 in FY27, $5,400,000 in FY28 and a listed figure of "8.1" in FY29 as presented; and for the Arizona Experiment Station $18,300,000 in FY27, a quoted "4.6" in FY28 and $7,000,000 in FY29 (figures quoted as presented by staff).

Senator Tim Dunn said the request grew from stakeholder conversations and aims to restore and modernize experiment-station facilities, noting the Cooperative Extension serves all 15 counties. Daniel Harris of the Arizona Farm Bureau urged support, saying Cooperative Extension delivers research-based solutions to producers and that Arizona agriculture accounts for “over almost $31,000,000,000 in economic impact.”

Members acknowledged that appropriation measures will be subject to broader budget negotiations; several members who voiced concerns nonetheless voted to advance the bill so the legislature can consider the priorities in budget deliberations. The chair announced the committee’s vote as 6 ayes and 1 nay and returned SB 17 61 with a do-pass recommendation.