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
HB2581: Ecological water; program; fund
In Brief: Establishes the Ecological Water Stewardship Program
Sponsor(s): Gabaldon and others
Last Action: Held in Committee
Description: This bill establishes the Ecological Water Stewardship Program and directs the ADWR Director to adopt rules to carry out its mission. The bill directs the ADWR Director to establish a set of standard measures to define ecological water needs in Arizona, including criteria for examining the relationship between ecological water and groundwater and surface water in Arizona. The bill directs the Director to take all reasonable steps necessary to monitor, maintain, improve and restore the surface water systems of Arizona. After making a determination of the ecological water needs for each watershed or subwatershed, the Director would publish a preliminary report that includes a determination of the ecological water and monitoring methods necessary to maintain and restore freshwater ecosystems. If the Director determines in any watershed or subwatershed that there is insufficient ecological water, the Director shall take all steps necessary to appropriate any unappropriated water to maintain the ecological water requirements or acquire by purchase or lease existing water rights.
HB2429: Public work contracts; prevailing wage
In Brief: Public works contract wage requirements
Sponsor(s): Cardenas and 14 others
Last Action: Held in Committee
Description: This bill states that a public works contract that is valued at two hundred fifty thousand dollars or more shall contain a provision requiring the wages paid by the contractor or any subcontractor to be at least the prevailing rate of wages for work of a similar nature in the state or political subdivision in which the project is located. AMWUA staff does not anticipate that this bill will move forward this session.
SB1124: Arizona water protect fund; appropriation
In Brief: Would appropriate $500,000 for FY18 from the state general fund for the Arizona Water Protection Fund.
Sponsor(s): Griffin
Last Action: 2/22/17 – Passed the Senate; 5/01/17 – Passed the House Rules Committee
Description: This bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2018 from the state general fund for the Arizona Water Protection Fund. The Arizona Water Protection Fund is a state-run program that funds projects to protect and enhance water quality and quantity in Arizona's rivers, streams, and riparian areas. Some of these efforts include revegitation, erosion control, channel stabilization, research, and water conservation. As a result of the benefits of the program to Arizona's water supplies, AMWUA staff recommends supporting the bill.
HB2231: Desalination; study committee
In Brief: Would create a desalination study committee to look into possible desalination opportunities in Arizona.
Sponsor(s): Shooter
Last Action: Assigned to the House Rules Committee
Description: This bill establishes a nine-member desalination study committee comprising members of the Legislature and subject matter experts. The committee would collect information on desalination within Arizona, review data from desalting plants in operation, and study opportunities for desalination projects in Arizona. Some have expressed the concern that this bill potentially dilutes the efforts and purpose of the Governor's Water Augmentation Council.
SB1280: Groundwater; extinguishment credits; Pinal AMA
In Brief: Would increase groundwater mining in the Pinal AMA
Sponsor(s): Smith and four others
Last Action: 2/13/17 – Failed in the Senate Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee
Description: This bill would prevent the Director of ADWR from adopting or implementing any rule in the Pinal AMA that would reduce the amount or quantity of credits for the extinguishment of irrigation grandfathered rights to less than the full amount of the right. The bill would be retroactive. This bill would increase groundwater mining in the Pinal AMA. AMWUA opposed an identical version of this bill last legislative session.
HB2112: Multi-county water district; directors; elections
In Brief: Would prevent a CAP employee or a CAP employee’s spouse from serving on the CAWCD Board of Directors.
Sponsor(s): Finchem and 8 others
Last Action: 4/26/17 – Passed the Senate as amended; 5/8/17 – Passed the House; 5/10/17 – Signed by the Governor
Description: This bill changes the requirements for a person to serve on the board of directors for multi-county water districts such as the Central Arizona Project. This bill would essentially prevent a CAP employee or the spouse of a CAP employee from serving on the Board of Directors. On March 13th, this bill was amended in committee to remove a requirement that would have required candidates for the CAP Board to have their party designation denoted on the ballot for elections.
HB2330: Water augmentation systems; tax credit
In Brief: Would create a tax credit for the installation of a residential rainwater harvesting system or a residential graywater system.
Sponsor(s): Campbell and two others
Last Action: 2/15/17 – Passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee
Description: This bill introduces a tax credit for the installation of a ""Residential Water Augmentation System,"" which is defined as either a rainwater harvesting system or a residential graywater system. The tax credit is equal to 25 percent of the cost of the system up to a maximum of $1,000. The tax credit would be available from December 31, 2017 through January 1, 2026. The bill limits the annual amount for the tax credit that the state can allow to $250,000. A similar tax credit for graywater systems was effective for tax years 2007 through 2011, although some have questioned how effective it was at incentivizing graywater use. AMWUA staff recommends supporting this bill as a means of encouraging efforts to reuse and conserve water.