This weekly publication is available during the legislative session. For general legislative inquiries, please visit azwater.gov.

INFORMATION

The 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session has adjourned Sine Die.

• The general effective date for all legislation without a specified date or emergency clause is September 26, 2025.

BILL SUMMARIES

The following list of bills is not a comprehensive list of bills ADWR Legislative Affairs tracked this session and only includes bills that passed out of the legislature.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HB 2088 - subsequent AMA; director; removal

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Requires the Director of ADWR to review areas included in subsequent active management areas (AMAs) to determine whether they still meet the criteria for such designation. If an area no longer meets these criteria, the Director may remove the AMA designation and is required to file an order designating the area as outside of an AMA. Establishes procedures for public hearings regarding the removal of AMA designations.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: April 15, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2089 - subsequent AMA; voters; removal

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Modifies procedures for designating and removing subsequent active management areas (AMAs) for groundwater basins. After 10 years, registered voters residing in a designated subsequent AMA may file petitions signed by at least ten percent of residents to remove the AMA designation. The county board of supervisors is required to forward petitions to the Director of ADWR, who must examine groundwater conditions within 60 days of receiving the petition and either declare the AMA necessary or allow for an election to decide its removal. Election procedures and responsibilities for costs are outlined, including conditions for multi-county AMAs.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: April 15, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2091 - assured water supply; certificate; model

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Requires the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to re-evaluate certain certificate of assured water supply applications in the Phoenix Active Management Area submitted between January 26, 2021, and August 31, 2023, if no certificate has yet been issued and specific groundwater and long-term storage credit commitments are made by the municipal provider. Authorizes a credit transfer mechanism to the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District and provides conditions for price, purchase, and duration. Deems certain groundwater models as meeting physical availability requirements. Requires notification of eligible applicants and allows pending or withdrawn applications to be reviewed. Applies issued certificates retroactively to calendar year 2023 for designation purposes. Self-repeals January 1, 2029.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: July 1, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2202 - subsequent AMA; previously nonirrigated land

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Allows irrigation in subsequent active management areas for land that was not previously irrigated if the land is adjacent to a previously irrigated parcel, and the irrigation would not cause the person to exceed the groundwater volume allowed by the irrigation grandfathered rights. Retroactive to August 30, 2022.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: April 15, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2203 - historical water use; subsequent AMA

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: For irrigated land to receive grandfathered irrigation rights when the land become part of a subsequent active management area (AMA), the land must have been legally irrigated at any time during the ten years, increased from five years, preceding the date of the notice of the initiation of designation procedures for the AMA. The calculations for the amount of grandfathered irrigation rights are also changed to refer to the previous ten years instead of five years. Retroactive to August 30, 2022.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 2, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2270 - groundwater model; stormwater recharge; AMAs

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Requires ADWR to adopt updated rules for groundwater modeling in Active Management Areas (AMAs). The updated rules must account for stormwater recharge from new or existing infrastructure. ADWR is required to update the groundwater model for AMAs annually to reflect new recharge data.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: April 15, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2271 - supply and demand; assessment; groundwater

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Establishes a list of information that the director of ADWR must include in the five-year supply and demand assessment for all groundwater basins.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: April 18, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2274 - water improvement district; Willcox basin

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Authorizes the Cochise County Board of Supervisors to call a special election for residents within the Willcox groundwater basin to decide whether to establish a domestic water improvement district. Limits the district’s jurisdiction to the portion of the basin within Cochise County. Grants the district authority to deliver drinking water, construct water infrastructure, and manage groundwater recharge projects. Designates the Cochise County Board of Supervisors as the district’s governing body if voters approve its formation.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 12, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2551 - grandfathered right; Willcox AMA; extension

Sponsor: Rep. Lupe Diaz (R)

Summary: Extends the application period for individuals claiming a grandfathered groundwater right in the Willcox Active Management Area to 21 months after the area's designation. Retroactive to January 8, 2025.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: April 18, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2570 - temporary non-expansion area

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Authorizes residents and groundwater users in certain areas outside Active Management Areas or Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas to petition ADWR to designate a Temporary Non-Expansion Area (TNEA). Requires the ADWR Director to limit new irrigation and restrict groundwater withdrawals and well drilling within the proposed TNEA while designation procedures are pending. Requires an election for final designation of the TNEA and mandates irrigation limits, withdrawal caps, well permitting restrictions, and annual reporting for non-exempt wells within the designated area. Requires the ADWR Director to conduct a hydrological analysis before the ten-year irrigation moratorium ends and allows continuation or lapse of the TNEA based on the analysis.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 12, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2572 - subsequent AMAs; groundwater rights; adequacy

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Allows landowners in a subsequent Active Management Area (AMA) to apply to the Director of ADWR to add acres to or substitute acres on an Irrigation Grandfathered Right (IGFR), provided the land has not been retired from irrigation. Allows IGFRs to be transferred or combined across acres within the same basin or subbasin, with groundwater use limited to the original IGFR allocation. Revises qualifications and procedures for appointing and removing members of a Groundwater Users Advisory Council (GUAC) in subsequent AMAs, including allowing recall elections. Expands criteria for recognizing land as irrigated based on capital investment. Requires GUACs to set management goals and plans within two years of AMA designation, and requires groundwater withdrawal reduction or water quality improvement programs when necessary. Prohibits safe yield as an AMA goal where no feasible alternative water supply exists.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 2, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2573 - groundwater; plants; wine grapes; non-irrigation

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Reiterates that hydroponic plants are considered a non-irrigation water use in an Active Management Area (AMA). Adds the growing of wine grapes to the definition of non-irrigation water use in an AMA.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: April 18, 2025 - Vetoed

HB 2691 - groundwater replenishment districts; annual dues

Sponsor: Rep. Gail Griffin (R)

Summary: Modifies the calculation of annual membership dues for groundwater replenishment districts by establishing new methods to prorate costs based on projected groundwater use per lot for member lands. Prohibits multi-county water conservation districts from increasing annual membership dues per lot for the 2026-2027 billing year beyond the rate charged in 2025-2026.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 7, 2025 - Signed

HB 2727 - county water authority; post-2024 authority

Sponsor: Rep. Leo Biasiucci (R)

Summary: Expands the authority of county water authorities formed after December 31, 2024, to include acquiring and managing additional water sources beyond Colorado River water, including groundwater, effluent, and other water resources. Modifies the structure and membership requirements of county water authorities. Establishes new financial and administrative frameworks for post-2024 authorities, including revised budgeting, dues collection, and fund management processes.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 7, 2025 - Signed

HB 2753 - groundwater replenishment; Pinal AMA

Sponsor: Rep. Theresa Martinez (R)

Summary: Requires the Central Arizona Water Conservation District to replenish groundwater in the Pinal Active Management Area (AMA) within three years of incurring a replenishment obligation. Allows municipal providers applying for a new assured water supply designation in the Pinal AMA to elect whether member land parcels within their service areas retain a replenishment obligation.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 23, 2025 - Signed

SENATE 

SB 1116 - groundwater model; receipt; written findings

Sponsor: Sen. Tim Dunn (R)

Summary: Requires the Director of ADWR to notify the submitter within 5 days of receiving an alternative groundwater model. Within 60 days of receipt, the Director must issue a written response detailing acceptance or rejection of the model's overall findings and specific findings, including rationale for any rejections.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 12, 2025 - Vetoed

SB 1300 - San Simon Valley; groundwater; election

Sponsor: Sen. Warren Petersen (R)

Summary: Authorizes the Cochise and Graham County Board of Supervisors to call a special election within 90 days to determine whether to designate the portion of the San Simon Valley groundwater subbasin as an irrigation non-expansion area. Requires all qualified electors in the designated area to be eligible to vote, and mandates that the county bear all election-related costs. Directs the Director ADWR to provide boundary data to aid the county recorder in verifying voter eligibility. Requires the ADWR Director to designate the area as an irrigation non-expansion area and file a map with the county recorder if a majority of voters approve the measure.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 12, 2025 - Vetoed

SB 1518 - subsequent AMAs; groundwater portability

Sponsor: Sen. Tim Dunn (R)

Summary: Allows the owner of an irrigation grandfathered right in a subsequent active management area (AMA) to use, sell, transfer, or lease the grandfathered right and associated water duty of non-irrigated acres to another irrigator within the same subsequent AMA. Requires owners that do so to notify ADWR and include details of the acres involved and the volume of groundwater conveyed.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: May 12, 2025 - Vetoed

SB 1611 - physical availability exemption credit; groundwater

Sponsor: Sen. Thomas “TJ” Shope (R)

Summary: Allows landowners in the Phoenix and Pinal Active Management Areas to permanently relinquish irrigation grandfathered rights in exchange for groundwater savings credits, which ADWR must quantify and issue under specified conditions. Authorizes the use of those credits to satisfy the physical availability requirement for assured water supply certificates or designations if located within one mile of the relinquished land, subject to restrictions on turf, water features, and landscaping. Prohibits municipalities in initial active management areas from enforcing landscaping or lot design standards that would increase water use in subdivisions where groundwater savings credits are pledged. Requires ADWR to establish a program to administer groundwater savings credits through rulemaking.

Position: Neutral

Last Action: June 30, 2025 - Signed