monitoring program; fish contaminants; appropriation

SB 1421 establishes a state-run program to monitor contaminants like pesticides and metals in Arizona’s sport fish. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality must test fish in all recreational waters (especially urban areas) every three years, conduct annual screenings for new high-risk sites, and develop health risk assessments with the Department of Health Services. If contamination poses health risks, the department must issue bilingual (English/Spanish) health advisories and post signage at fishing locations, including parks, piers, and online fishing reports. The program requires $500,000 in state funding for fiscal year 2025-2026 to cover monitoring, assessments, and public notifications. This directly affects recreational anglers and communities near water bodies where fish consumption may pose health risks.