Collaboration between State Lawmakers and Water Providers Will Be Vital This Legislative Session

As a new legislative session begins at the Arizona Capitol, the challenges facing the state’s most vital resource have never demanded more immediate and effective measures. Arizona lawmakers are currently navigating numerous proposed laws that will shape the state's future. Water security remains a top priority for that future.

The Colorado River will dominate and influence all other water issues this session. This is because the current operating guidelines for the Colorado River expire at the end of 2026, and we do not know exactly how much of that water Arizona will have after this year. The federal government and the Seven Basin States have not been able to reach an agreement, with the divide between the Upper Basin States (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico) and the Lower Basin States (Arizona, California, and Nevada) as the principal obstacle. Plus, with negotiations at a stalemate, a generally overall drier and warmer hydrology impacting the river, and a particularly bad snowpack so far this winter, the river’s future and the impact on Arizona is serious and uncertain.  

Lawmakers are anxious to make a positive difference. It will be important for them to carefully consider the implications of any water bill, given how much is still up in the air with the Colorado River. For example, it is positive that House Bill 2116 would provide funds for legal fees if the current disagreements over the Colorado River end up in court. This is wise preparation. On the other hand, amid tense Colorado River negotiations, lawmakers should be cautious of the optics of putting forward bills that could be seen as supportive of the Upper Basin States’ position, including that Arizona’s wise storage of Colorado River water somehow means Arizona deserves less water going forward. Plus, without knowing how the federal government will ultimately decide to manage Colorado River deliveries after 2026, it is important not to prematurely enact legislation that would affect Colorado River water in Arizona.  

The ten AMWUA municipalities and the rest of Arizona’s long-term viability depends on water security , including continued access to the Colorado River water they have relied on. AMWUA and its members are ready to work with state lawmakers to safeguard Arizona’s legacy of smart water management and the billions of dollars of investments that have allowed the AMWUA cities to provide water security to their 3.7 million residents and support a thriving economy in the heart of the desert.

It is critical for state legislators to understand that water security is the foundation for a thriving economy and to recognize the critical role municipal water providers play in Arizona’s water management. Therefore, lawmakers should actively partner with municipal water providers to ensure Arizona continues to thrive through converging water challenges, including reduced Colorado River water and stressed aquifers.

Water security is not an urban issue or a rural issue; it is an Arizona issue. A secure future will not happen by accident—it will be the result of bold leadership, careful planning, and the wisdom to support the policies that have brought us this far. By working together, legislators and municipal water providers can ensure that the next generation of water policy is as strong as the last.

For over 57 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities’ ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies to their communities. For more information, visit www.amwua.org .