Legislation Archive
Session Summaries
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2023 - Fifty-sixth Legislature - First Regular Session
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2022 - Fifty-fifth Legislature - Second Regular Session
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2021 - Fifty-fifth Legislature - First Regular Session
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2020 - Fifty-fourth Legislature - Second Regular Session
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2019 - Fifty-fourth Legislature - First Regular Session
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2018 - Fifty-third Legislature - Second Regular Session
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2017 – Fifty-third Legislature – First Regular Session
Bill Archive
HB 2448: Appropriation; groundwater; Santa Rosa canal
In Brief: Appropriates $25 million to ADWR to distribute to MSIDD and CAIDD to construct a way to convey groundwater separate from the Santa Rosa canal.
Sponsor(s): Martinez, Cook, Smith
Last Action: This project was included in the budget. However, the monies were appropriated from the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund instead of the State General Fund.
Description: Appropriates $25 million from the state General Fund to ADWR to distribute to MSIDD and CAIDD to construct a way to convey groundwater separate from the Santa Rosa canal. This bill is related to a pending settlement between the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the two Pinal irrigation districts. The settlement is anticipated to lead to Reclamation approving the water quality standards for moving non-Colorado River water through the CAP canal.
HB 2535: Private property; wells; regulation; prohibition
In Brief: Precludes municipal regulation of private wells after annexation.
Sponsor(s): Smith & 23 others
Last Action: Vetoed by the Governor on April 5th.
Description: In an unincorporated area, a well drilled on private property and any buildings or structures that rely on that well are not subject to “municipal regulation” if the area is annexed by a city or town. HB 2535 has the potential for broad and significant negative impacts on public health and safety – including preventing a municipality from implementing building safety codes, fire codes, or water quality and sanitation measures in an annexed area. On March 16, 2023, the Senate Natural Resources Committee voted 4-1 to pass out of Committee. Senator Fernandez offered an amendment that AMWUA assisted with drafting to address our concerns. The sponsor, Rep Smith, said he was supportive of the amendment, had a few word changes, and would work with Senator Fernandez. However, the bill ended up passing without this amendment. When asked, Smith said that he did not like the amendment after all, but that the bill would end up being vetoed anyway, so he would work on it next year.
HB 2590: Real estate disclosures; water; solar
In Brief: Adds requirements for disclosure for water provider information to prospective property buyers
Sponsor(s): Griffin
Last Action: Passed Senate RULES on March 20th.
Description: The State Real Estate Department shall require each realtor to provide information on water resources to buyers or residential property or vacant land, including if there is water service to the property, if property is served by water that is transported from elsewhere, and details about the water provider serving the property. Specifies that the seller of the property must provide contact information for any applicable water hauling company, as well as the leasing company for any leased solar panels on the property.
HB 2616: Subdivisions; leased properties
In Brief: Expands the applicability of Assured Water Supply requirements to leasehold offerings of one year or less (i.e., build-to-rent properties).
Sponsor(s): Bliss
Last Action: Held in House NREW on February 14th.
Description: Arizona’s Groundwater Code requires that prior to the sale of subdivided land in AMAs, an assured water supply must be demonstrated. HB 2616 removes an exemption from the definition of “Subdivision” for “leasehold offerings of one year or less.” Removing this exemption would expand the applicability of Assured Water Supply requirements to leasehold offerings of one year or less (i.e., build-to-rent properties). Rental properties such as apartments and mobile home communities would remain excluded from the definition of “subdivision.”
HB 2669: Prohibition, biosolids, land application
In Brief: Limits the application of biosolids to agricultural land near residential areas and fields producing a crop meant for human consumption.
Sponsor(s): Dunn
Last Action: Passed Senate RULES on April 10th.
Description: Biosolids are used a soil amendment, conditioner or fertilizer. This bill prohibits the application of Class B biosolids within three miles of a population center, within one mile of a crop produced for human consumption, or within one mile of any property zoned residential.The prohibition will drastically reduce the number of acres available for land application and significantly increase costs for larger municipal utilities and their customers statewide without correcting any identified safety or health risk. This bill passed Senate NREW on March 30, 2023 with an amendment that removed the distance limitations for land applications and shifted the focus away from biosolids to the land application of sewage and septage.
SB 1090: Groundwater pumping; foreign ownership; prohibition
In Brief: Prohibits foreign entities from being eligible to pump groundwater
Sponsor(s): Kern
Last Action: Was never heard in committee.
Description: “A corporation or other entity in which the government of another country has a controlling interest is not eligible to pump groundwater in this state.” Controlling interest is defined as direct or indirect ownership of at least 80% of the voting shares or interests of the entity.
SB 1223: Water infrastructure; commerce grant fund
In Brief: Appropriates $8 million to the AZ Commerce Authority for a Pinal County employer
Sponsor(s): Shope
Last Action: Failed to pass House NREW on March 28th.
Description: Appropriates $8 million to the “Water Infrastructure and Commerce Grant Fund” in FY24. The Fund was created in 2022 for the purpose of providing grants to eligible entities for design and construction of water infrastructure. Eligible entities are Pinal County employers with more than 250 employees, or a private water company acting on the behalf of the Pinal County company.
SB 1257: Water resources; assistant director
In Brief: Requires ADWR to appoint an Assistant Director for coordination with WIFA
Sponsor(s): Peterson
Last Action: Passed House RULES on March 20th.
Description: Requires the Director of ADWR to appoint an Assistant Director whose exclusive duties are coordinating with WIFA and water users on water importation projects for augmentation, and projects to increase water storage.
SB 1278: S/e state preemption; utilities; appliances; restrictions; prohibition; limitation; definitions
In Brief: Prohibits municipalities from imposing further regulation to limit what types of appliances utility customers can use.
Sponsor(s): Montenegro
Last Action: Passed House RULES on April 4th.
Description: This bill would prohibit municipalities from imposing further regulation to limit what types of appliances utility customers can use. AMWUA is concerned that this bill could impact municipal water conservation initiatives because the bill as written applies to dishwashers "or other appliance that is designed to use the services of a utility provider".
SB 1306: Local groundwater stewardship areas
In Brief: Creates a new rural water management framework.
Sponsor(s): Borelli & Biasiucci
Last Action: Was never heard in committee.
Description: SB 1306 and HB 2731 creates a new water management framework titled “Local Groundwater Stewardship Areas” (LGSA) that can be established via designation by a County Board of Supervisors, the Director of ADWR, or petition of residents within a groundwater basin if certain conditions related to groundwater depletion are met. For any LGSA that is formed, the Governor shall appoint persons to an LGSA Council that represents water users in the area. The Council is charged with establishing a Management Plan and Goal(s) for the LGSA and recommending best management practices designed to reduce groundwater withdrawals in the area. SB 1306 also establishes the Department of Water Resources Local Groundwater Stewardship Fund consisting of monies deposited from State Lottery, to support ADWR’s administration of the LGSA.