Providing for a healthy soils and watersheds initiative, and including effective date provisions

This bill creates a healthy soils and watersheds initiative (initiative) administered by the division of soil conservation and water quality (division) created within the department of agriculture and land stewardship. The purposes of the initiative include preserving, optimizing, and improving soil health, watershed health, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat. Soil health refers to the overall composition of soil, its water-holding capacity, and its capacity to function as a vital living ecosystem. Watershed health refers to the capacity of surface water and groundwater sources to function as a vital living ecosystem. The division is required, to the extent that funding is available, to support measures that further the purposes of the initiative, including controlling soil erosion, improving water quality and reliable water availability, and integrating animals into land and water management practices. The bill authorizes the division to support activities by use of financial incentives in the form of a grant, loan, or on a cost-share basis. Financial incentives may be used to assist in the development of soil health assessments, and to further efforts of persons interested in occupations associated with healthy soils practices. Activities are supported by a healthy soils and watersheds initiative fund. The division is required to prepare an annual report for submission to the governor and general assembly. The bill amends a number of provisions in Code chapter 161A, providing soil and water conservation practices and erosion control practices administered by the division, the state soil conservation and water quality committee, and commissioners of soil and water conservation districts. The bill requires that at least two members of the committee have experience using healthy soils practices. The bill takes effect upon enactment.