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
SB 1067: Cities; water infrastructure finance authority
In Brief: Streamlines statutory requirements for accessing WIFA infrastructure funds
Sponsor(s): Shope
Last Action: Signed by Governor 4/13
Description: SB 1067 as amended allows cities and towns of any size to access federal water-related infrastructure funds appropriated by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act without having to place the loan agreement on the ballot.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/76344?SessionId=125
SB 1102: Homeowners' associations; solar, water devices
In Brief: Homeowners Associations (HOA) cannot prohibit the installation of a water saving device or indoor or outdoor water conservation practice.
Sponsor(s): Mendez & Salman
Last Action: Assigned to Senate Committees 1/10. Did not receive a hearing.
Description: Homeowners Associations (HOA) cannot prohibit the installation of a water saving device or indoor or outdoor water conservation practice. The HOA may adopt reasonable rules governing proposed water conservation practices. AMWUA supported this legislation in 2019.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/76403?SessionId=125
SB 1171: S/E treated process water; definitions
In Brief: Allows beverage manufacturing facilities to pump groundwater and generate LTSC with treated wastewater
Sponsor(s): Kerr
Last Action: Failed on House Floor 6/23
Description: Amends the statutory definition of “Water that cannot reasonably be used directly” (WaterBUD) to include Treated Process Water, defined as: “groundwater that is used for nonirrigation use in a facility that manufactures food and beverage products and subsequently treated at the site of use for storage.” This legislation is being introduced on behalf of two beverage manufacturing companies in the Valley who seek to recharge their industrial wastewater and generate long-term storage credits (LTSC) to increase their legally-allowable groundwater pumping. Currently, wastewater generated from industrial processes does not fall under the legal definition of “effluent” and is ineligible to accrue LTSC when stored underground. SB 1171 limits the use of treated process water LTSC to the same subbasin where the water was stored, and also limits the assignment (i.e., transfer or sale) of the LTSC to an affiliate or successor of the original storer. The AMWUA cities have serious concerns with the proposed statutory amendments, particularly the potential for this bill to incentivize industrial users to extract fossil groundwater and convert it to LTSC for sale, as well as the precedent of allowing groundwater-dependent industrial users to proliferate and remove themselves from centralized water management.
SB 1198: Local governments; lobbying; prohibition
In Brief: Prohibits governmental entities from funding external lobbying activities.
Sponsor(s): Peterson & 2 others
Last Action: Failed Senate vote 3/7
Description: Local governments, including cities and towns, are prohibited from entering into a contract for lobbying services and may not spend monies for lobbying services unless that person is an employee of the city or town. Local governmental entities may not pay membership dues to an organization that engages in lobbying activities. Exempts cities or towns with a population of fewer than 75,000 persons or a county with a population of fewer than 250,000 persons.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/76881?SessionId=125
SB 1489: Subdivisions; definition; lots
In Brief: Amends statutory definition of "subdivision" to 4 or more parcels
Sponsor(s): Otondo & 6 others
Last Action: Assigned to Senate Committees 1/27. Did not receive a hearing.
Description: Amends the statutory definition of “subdivision.” Currently subdivision is defined as land divided into six or more parcels where at least one parcel is less than 36 acres. SB 1489 would amend the definition to land divided into four or more parcels. It is AMWUA’s understanding that this bill is intended to address lot splits and wildcat subdivisions to bring more development under the jurisdiction of the Assured and Adequate Water Supply (AAWS) programs. From a water resource planning perspective, this would reduce the future unreplenished groundwater pumping associated with new developments that are not currently subject to AAWS requirements.
SB 1492: Subsequent irrigation non-expansion areas; procedures
In Brief: Modifies the procedures for determination of a new Irrigation Non-Expansion Area (INA)
Sponsor(s): Otondo & 15 others
Last Action: Assigned to Senate committees 1/27. Did not receive a hearing.
Description: These measures introduce a number of modifications to the procedures for establishment of new irrigation non-expansion areas (INA). This proposal would allow ADWR to consider projected rates of groundwater withdrawal as part of the determination of a new INA. The bill also clarifies which entities are eligible to petition the State to create a new INA and would mandate that petitioners submit a groundwater model and hydrologic assessment using methodology approved by the ADWR Director. The language aligns with the suggested statutory changes presented by ADWR in the summer of 2017 during the Governor’s Water Solutions Conversations. AMWUA has previously supported this legislation.
SB 1564: On-farm irrigation efficiency; fund; appropriation
In Brief: Establishes statutory procedures for a municipality to dissolve a water or wastewater improvement district
Sponsor(s): Griffin; Dunn
Last Action: Signed by Governor 6/30
Description: A strike-everything amendment was heard and passed out of House NREW to establish an "On-farm Irrigation Efficiency Fund" which will be administered by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. The s/e amendment originally contained a $30 million appropriation which was removed - the program will be funded with federal ARPA monies.
SB 1595: Irrigation districts; uses; drainage permit
In Brief: Authorizes Buckeye Irrigation District to export groundwater for M&I purposes
Sponsor(s): Kerr
Last Action: Assigned to Senate NREW. Did not receive a hearing.
Description: This legislation would allow the Buckeye Water Conservation & Drainage District (BWCDD) to serve groundwater to municipal and industrial water users up to the volume approved in its Drainage Water Withdrawal Permit. BWCDD has described this legislation as an effort to help nearby cities with an additional water supply as the groundwater would not carry a replenishment obligation because it originates from the Buckeye Waterlogged Area. It is unclear what local cities or users would seek to receive groundwater service from BWCDD under this new statutory authority. AMWUA has engaged with BWCDD representatives and other stakeholders to better understand the intent and consequences of this legislation. AMWUA staff and member cities have expressed significant concerns regarding the ramifications of this proposal, however SB 1595 as introduced has not been modified substantively from earlier drafts shared with stakeholders. This bill would lead to increased groundwater mining in the Buckeye Waterlogged Area, up to 30,000 AF per year, which would reduce physical availability of groundwater and count against the Phoenix AMA goal of safe-yield. The pumping and sale of this water has no conservation requirements, no replenishment obligations, and no withdrawal fees to contribute to the AMA water management objectives. Of most concern is the potential for future development to become reliant on groundwater from the waterlogged area that is temporary in nature as well as the precedence for irrigation districts to serve groundwater outside of their service area.
SB 1600: Water recharge; direct use
In Brief: Limited WaterBUD Repeal for Pinal AMA
Sponsor(s): Shope
Last Action: Assigned to Senate committees. Did not receive a hearing.
Description: Amends the definition of “Water that cannot reasonably be used directly” (WaterBUD) to include Central Arizona Project water stored underground in the Pinal AMA by a water provider located in the Pinal AMA. WaterBUD generally prohibits entities from earning or purchasing long-term storage credits (LTSC) if they are simultaneously pumping groundwater. SB 1600 would remove this prohibition from Pinal AMA water providers recharging CAP water in the Pinal AMA.
SB 1611: Arizona Water Authority
In Brief: Establishes the Arizona Water Authority
Sponsor(s): Fann & Kerr
Last Action: Assigned to Senate committees 2/1
Description: SB 1611 establishes the “Arizona Water Authority.” This bill is a placeholder for legislation under development by the Governor’s Office and House & Senate leadership. It is anticipated to restructure the Drought Mitigation Revolving Fund Board that was established in 2021 and create an entity to fund and oversee large augmentation projects.