HR 2003: Arizona water professionals; appreciation week

In Brief: Designates April 12-18, 2020 as Arizona Water Professionals Appreciation Week.

Sponsor(s): Gabaldón

Last Action:

Description: Designates April 14-20, 2019 as Arizona Water Professionals Appreciation Week to express gratitude and appreciation for the water professionals who contribute to the delivery and management of Arizona’s safe and reliable water supplies.

Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/72838?SessionId=122

SJR 1001: Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Joint Resolution

In Brief: Authorization from the Arizona Legislature for the Director of ADWR to enter into the interstate Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan

Sponsor(s): Fann, Kerr, Otondo

Last Action: Signed into law by the Governor 1/31/19

Description: The House and Senate Joint Resolutions authorize the Director of ADWR to enter into the interstate Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) agreements, if: federal legislation is enacted directing the Secretary of the Interior to execute the DCP agreements, and if all other parties to the DCP have authorized the execution of the agreements.

Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/71777

SB 1227: Drought Contingency Plan Omnibus

In Brief: The DCP Omnibus bills contain statutory amendments and appropriations for the implementation of the LBDCP in Arizona.

Sponsor(s): Fann, Kerr, Otondo

Last Action: Signed into law by the Governor 1/31/19

Description: The DCP Omnibus Bill contains various statutory amendments and legislative actions that were identified in the DCP negotiation process as material for the successful implementation of DCP within Arizona. The Omnibus Bill includes the following elements, which were also introduced as individual bills in the House: 1. Creation of an Arizona System Conservation Fund administered by ADWR for the purpose of spending monies from various parties on Colorado River system conservation. This component contains an appropriation of $30 million which is intended to purchase 150,000 acre-feet (AF) of system conservation from the Colorado River Indian Tribes. 2. Creation of a temporary fund to finance groundwater withdrawal infrastructure projects in Pinal County and the Harquahala INA, as well as authorization for redistribution of Pinal County Groundwater Withdrawal Fees normally collected for use by the Arizona Water Banking Authority (AWBA). As amended, SB 1227 contains an appropriation of $9 million for the fund. 3. Elimination of the 2025 sunset for effluent storage sunset, and amendments to the Groundwater Code allowing for 95% long-term storage credit accrual for effluent storage at an existing effluent managed underground storage facilitiy (USF). 4. Alterations to the Groundwater Code for entities who do not currently qualify to earn Long-Term Storage Credits under the WaterBUD provision. As amended, water stored at a Groundwater Savings Facility (GSF) in Pinal County to support DCP may now qualify for credit accrual, up to 15,000 AF per year. 5. Session Law authorizing the AWBA to transfer LTSCs between Active Management Areas (AMA). This provision enables USF to GSF storage arrangements between the Phoenix, Tucson, and Pinal AMAs negotiated in the DCP stakeholder process.

Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/71807

HB 2009: Navigable stream adjudication commission; extension

In Brief: Extends legislative authorization for the Arizona Navigable Stream Adjudication Commission

Sponsor(s): Griffin and 12 others

Last Action: Signed by Governor March 22nd, 2019

Description: This bill extends the legislative authorization for the Arizona Navigable Stream Adjudication Commission (ANSAC) for four years to June 30th, 2024. The ANSAC is charged with determining which of Arizona’s rivers and streams were navigable at time of Statehood. If determined to be navigable at time of Statehood, the land beneath the watercourse is subject to ownership by the State to be held in public trust., If non-navigable, the watercourse is subject to ownership by the person whose property it crosses. The commission was previously scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2020.

Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/71015

HB 2013: Appropriation; Arizona water protection fund

In Brief: Appropriates $1 million from the general fund to the Arizona Water Protection Fund.

Sponsor(s): Griffin & Townsend

Last Action: Held in Senate

Description: This bill would appropriate $1,000,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-20 to the Arizona Water Protection Fund. The Arizona Water Protection Fund is a state-run program administered by ADWR that funds projects to protect and enhance water quality and quantity in Arizona's rivers, streams, and riparian areas. Some of these efforts include revegetation, erosion control, channel stabilization, research, and water conservation.

Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/71019

HB 2110: Arizona biofuels conversion program; repeal - Striker

In Brief: Updates to Arizona's plumbing code to require water efficient fixtures.

Sponsor(s): Engel and six others

Last Action: Failed in committee 2/19/19

Description: This bill, originally introduced as HB 2394, updates Arizona’s water efficiency standards for indoor water fixtures, starting in 2020. Arizona’s efficiency requirements for plumbing fixtures have not been updated since they were last aligned with federal standards in 1992. HB 2394 would bring these efficiency standards into alignment with the voluntary Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense standards, a national water efficiency certification program. AMWUA did testify in support of this bill; however, the House Natural Resources Energy & Water Committee rejected it along party lines.

Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/71192?SessionId=121

HB 2124: Appropriations; courts; water master - Striker

In Brief: Appropriates $289,500 for support to the administration of the General Stream Adjudication

Sponsor(s): Udall and four others

Last Action: Held in Senate

Description: This striker announces the Legislature’s intent to appropriate $289,500 to the Administrative Office of the Courts as aid to the Special Water Master who oversees the General Stream Adjudication. The monies are allocated to electronic improvements to the case management system as well as for funding of administrative support personnel.

Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/71218?SessionId=121