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 2677: Groundwater replenishment reserves
In Brief: Modifies the statutory calculation for the CAGRD's Replenishment Reserves
Sponsor(s): Griffin
Last Action: Passed House, assigned to Senate WAG Committee 2/24
Description: This bill introduces clarifications to the calculation of CAGRD’s 100-year replenishment obligation for the purpose of calculating the replenishment reserve target. Existing statute could be read to require the CAGRD to calculate the replenishment reserve based on each AMA’s buildout obligation multiplied by 100. Modifies the statutory calculation of each AMA’s projected replenishment obligation to equal the cumulative projected obligation for each year following submission of the Plan of Operation.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/73356?SessionId=122
HB 2737: Water efficient plumbing fixtures
In Brief: Updates to Arizona's plumbing code to require water efficient fixtures.
Sponsor(s): Engel, Campbell, Payne, Otondo, Pratt
Last Action: Never heard in committee
Description: Arizona adopted water-efficiency standards for indoor plumbing fixtures in 1992 which have since been superseded by various federal laws and requirements. This bill would update Arizona’s water-efficiency standards to align with criteria established by the WaterSense Program, a public-private partnership between industry, utilities, and regulators.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/73747?SessionId=122
HB 2738: Irrigation non-expansion areas; water supplies
In Brief: Modifies the procedures for determination of a new Irrigation Non-Expansion Area (INA)
Sponsor(s): Engel, Cobb, Otondo
Last Action: No committee assignment
Description: An irrigation non-expansion area (INA) is a geographical area that has been designated as having insufficient groundwater for irrigation of cultivated lands. Within an INA expansion of new irrigated acreage is generally prohibited and water management regulations, such as well metering, apply. Arizona’s Groundwater Code allows the Director of ADWR to designate new INA’s based upon certain criteria, including if the Director determines that “there is insufficient groundwater . . . at the current rates of withdrawal.” (Emphasis added). In 2015, a petition from irrigators in the San Simon Valley to establish a new INA was declined by ADWR; the Director noting in his decision that he could not consider future groundwater uses in the determination. These bills would require the Director to consider projected rates of groundwater withdrawals in their determination of a new INA.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/73748?SessionId=122
HB 2758: Watershed health; use; survey
In Brief: Establishes statutory classification for ecological water, directs ADWR to survey the condition of Arizona watersheds.
Sponsor(s): Engel, Campbell, Cobb, Gabaldón, Rodriguez
Last Action: Never heard in committee
Description: This bill directs ADWR to conduct a biennial assessment of watershed health throughout Arizona and to establish by 2022 a set of recommendations for how much “ecological water” is needed to sustain ecosystems, wildlife habitat, or communities that may rely on a watershed. The bill also provides for the appropriation of water for “watershed health uses,” defined as the conservation of water within a natural watercourse that supports the health of an individual watershed. Current statutes allow for the appropriation and beneficial use of water instream for fish, wildlife, and recreation purposes but not explicitly for the benefit of the watershed or ecosystem as a whole.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/73826?SessionId=122
HB 2787: Water; augmentation authority; special districts
In Brief: Adds statutory authorities for county water augmentation authorities and county improvement districts for water supply acquisition
Sponsor(s): Shope
Last Action: Passed House, assigned to Senate WAG Committee 3/2
Description: This measure has been introduced on behalf of the Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority (CWAA). The bill would create a statutory framework for a CWAA to levy an assessment (similar to an ad valorem property tax) on property for the purposes of financing water supply development projects that will ultimately allow that property to be eligible for a Certificate of Assured Water Supply. HB 2787 also adds to the existing statutory authorities of County Improvement Districts the ability to acquire water supplies and develop infrastructure for water conveyance, reuse, or replenishment. Finally, this bill would require ADWR to transfer a minimum of $200,000 per year of groundwater withdrawal fee monies to the Pinal CWAA. Currently, statute specifies that ADWR may transfer up to $200,000 by annual determination.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/74070?SessionId=122
SB 1301: Water banking; storage credits; subcontractors
In Brief: Allows the Arizona Water Banking Authority to directly distribute long-term storage credits to M&I Subcontractors
Sponsor(s): Pratt & 2 others
Last Action: Passed Senate, assigned to House NREW 3/5
Description: For nearly three decades the Arizona Water Banking Authority (AWBA) has stored Colorado River water underground to supplement the water supplies of Central Arizona Project (CAP) Municipal & Industrial (M&I) subcontractors. To access the stored water in times of shortage, current statutes require that the AWBA must first transfer the LTSC to CAP for recovery. This bill would provide the AWBA with the option to distribute LTSC directly to M&I subcontractors. The concept of direct distribution is an outcome of a stakeholder effort to plan for the recovery of water supplies stored by the AWBA. This legislative change would provide flexibility and simplicity for recovery of AWBA credits and reduces the cost of recovery to end users.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/73558?SessionId=122
SB 1385: Water adequacy requirements; statewide applicability
In Brief: Establishes requirement for counties to establish mandatory water adequacy provisions for subdivision development approval.
Sponsor(s): Mendez & 5 others
Last Action: Never heard in committee
Description: This bill would mandate that counties outside of the Active Management Areas (AMA) adopt an adequate water requirement for subdivided lands within the county. Currently counties outside of an AMA have an option to adopt the mandatory adequacy provisions upon unanimous vote of the county Board of Supervisors.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/73669?SessionId=122
SB 1405: Water; well metering; nonexempt wells
In Brief: Mandates water use metering and reporting for nonexempt groundwater wells
Sponsor(s): Mendez & 4 others
Last Action: Never heard in committee
Description: This bill mandates measuring and annual reporting for nonexempt groundwater wells throughout the state. Nonexempt wells include those with a pumping capacity greater than 35 gallons-per-minute. Current law contains no measuring requirements for wells outside of the AMAs or INA except for a person who withdraws groundwater for transportation to an initial AMA.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/73691?SessionId=122
SB 1465: Ecological water; watersheds; use; survey
In Brief: Establishes statutory classification for ecological water, directs ADWR to survey the condition of Arizona watersheds.
Sponsor(s): Dalessandro & 3 others
Last Action: Never heard in committee
Description: This bill directs ADWR to conduct a biennial assessment of watershed health throughout Arizona and to establish by 2022 a set of recommendations for how much “ecological water” is needed to sustain ecosystems, wildlife habitat, or communities that may rely on a watershed. The bill also provides for the appropriation of water for “watershed health uses,” defined as the conservation of water within a natural watercourse that supports the health of an individual watershed. Current statutes allow for the appropriation and beneficial use of water instream for fish, wildlife, and recreation purposes but not explicitly for the benefit of the watershed or ecosystem as a whole.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/73780?SessionId=122
SB 1488: Appropriation; best land management practices
In Brief: Directs the State Forester to establish a best land management practice program for wildfire prevention. Appropriates $4 million.
Sponsor(s): Otondo & 24 others
Last Action: Passed Senate 3/5
Description: This bill directs the State Land Commissioner and State Forester to establish a program promoting best land management practices for the removal of hazardous vegetation on state land for the purposes of fire suppression and watershed management. SB 1488 outlines the program requirements to specifically include a plan for removal of hazardous vegetation from federal and tribal lands for the purposes of protecting infrastructure and municipal water supplies. The bill would appropriate $4 million from the general fund for the program.
Link: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/73804?SessionId=122