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Arizona state capitol building at sunset with text overlaid that reads "Legislative Affairs"

Legislative Affairs

The Arizona Department of Water Resources Office of Legislative Affairs coordinates the Department’s legislative agenda, tracks pending federal and state legislation on water and natural resources and builds and maintains relationships with lawmakers, their staff and the broader water community.  In this section, Legislative Affairs provides a Weekly Legislative Update detailing the disposition of water-related legislation during the regular session of the Arizona Legislature. 
 
Legislative Affairs serves as the point of contact for legislators and their staff.  Lawmakers and stakeholders are encouraged to engage the Department on potential legislation.  For tour opportunities, bill analysis and general legislative inquiries, please review our contact information.


For the week ending Friday, March 24, 2023

 

 

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

 

Info 

Today is the 75th day of the 56th Legislature 1st Regular Session 

  • The deadline to hear bills in Committees has been extended an additional week.  

Posted Committee Hearings 

 

  • SB 1432 - assured water; small residential developments.. Hearing Scheduled - 03/28/2023, 2:00 PM - House NREW, HHR 1

  • SB 1660 - water; storage; effluent; credits - Hearing Scheduled - 03/28/2023, 2:00 PM - House NREW, HHR 1

Weekly Newsletter:
PDF icon ADWR Weekly Legislative Update 032423.pdf

Enacted Legislation


HB 2054

water quality appeals board; continuation

The statutory life of the Water Quality Appeals Board is extended eight years to July 1, 2030. Retroactive to July 1, 2022.

Disposition: 4/13 signed by governor. Chap. 121, Laws 2022.

First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Neutral

HB 2057

water supply development fund; revisions

Monies in the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund may be used for providing technical assistance to water providers for water supply development projects. Increases the maximum amount of a single Water Infrastructure Finance Authority grant to water providers for water supply development projects to $250,000, from $100,000.

Disposition: 3/25 signed by Governor Chap. 63, Laws 2022.

First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Neutral

HB 2131

HOA’s; artificial grass ban prohibited

In any planned community that allows grass on a member's property, a homeowner's association (HOA) cannot prohibit installing or using artificial grass on any member's property. An HOA is allowed to adopt reasonable rules regarding the installation and appearance of artificial grass if those rules do not prevent installing or using the artificial grass. The court is required to award reasonable attorney fees and costs to any party that prevails in an action against the HOA for a violation of this legislation.

Disposition: 3/30 signed by Governor. Chap. 101, Laws 2022.

First Sponsor : Rep. Kavanagh (R - Dist 23)
ADWR Position : Neutral

HB 2231

universities; water rights adjudications

Summary: A university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents is authorized to offer pro bono assistance to claimants who are small landowners in the general stream adjudication of water rights who are not represented by counsel. Any university that offers such assistance is required to cooperate and coordinate with the faculty of a cooperative extension in Arizona that has a program to support the economic vitality of rural communities and the use of natural resources in those communities. By November 15 of each year, a university that offers such assistance is required to submit a written report of assistance activities to the Governor and the Legislature.

Disposition:  4/18 signed by governor. Chap. 152, Laws 2022.

 

 

First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Neutral

HB 2409

multi-county water districts; storage tax

Summary: The maximum tax levy for water storage of $0.04 per $100 of assessed valuation in a multi-county water conservation district is extended through December 31, 2029, after which the maximum tax levy is reduced to $0.03 per $100 of assess valuation. The delayed repeal of statute authorizing the tax levy is extended five years to January 2, 2035.

Disposition: 4/18 signed by governor. Chap. 154, Laws 2022.

First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Neutral

HB 2411

coal combustion residuals; program

Summary: Adds a new article to Title 49 (The Environment) allowing the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality to adopt rules to establish and operate a Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Program equivalent to or at least as protective as the federal CCR Program for the purpose of obtaining approval to operate the federal CCR Program. Federal CCR regulations may be adopted by reference. The rules are required to provide requirements for issuing, denying, suspending, or modifying individual CCR permits, and must include a list of specified provisions.

Disposition: 4/25 signed by governor. Chap. 178, Laws 2022.

First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Support

HB 2556

water infrastructure finance; sunset repeal

Repeals the statutory termination date of July 1, 2022 for the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority. Retroactive to July 1, 2022.

Disposition: 3/25 signed by Governor Chap. 68, Laws 2022

First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Neutral

SB 1067

water infrastructure finance authority; cities

Municipalities with a population of more than 150,000 persons and less than 300,000 persons are no longer required to get voter approval before entering into a financial assistance loan repayment agreement with the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA). WIFA is prohibited from providing funds to a municipality to condemn or acquire through eminent domain any assets of a public service corporation regulated by the Corporation Commission. During FY2022-23 through FY2026-27, all counties and municipalities regardless of population, and a sanitary district with a population of fewer than 50,000 persons, are authorized to enter info a financial assistance loan repayment agreement with WIFA without voter approval. Emergency clause.

Disposition:  4/13 signed by governor. Chap. 133, Laws 2022.

First Sponsor : Sen. Shope (R - Dist 8)
ADWR Position : Neutral

SB 1197

WIFA projects; irrigation districts

Summary: Redefines service area for an irrigation district and allows these districts and water conservation

districts to receive financial assistance from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) to

design, rehabilitate or improve water or wastewater infrastructure.

Disposition: 5/2 signed by governor. Chap. 213, Laws 2022

First Sponsor : Sen. Shope (R - Dist 8)
ADWR Position : Neutral

SB 1740

water infrastructure financing; supply; augmentation

Bill Summary

Purpose & Summary

Now and into the foreseeable future many regions in this state lack access to sustainable water supplies to meet their current and long-term water demands and need financial assistance to develop water supply and conservation projects. The legislature intends that the fund established by this legislation be used to provide financial assistance for projects protecting current and future residents, the economy and the environment of this state.  This is best achieved through a comprehensive water strategy that conserves water, improves the efficiency and reuse of existing water resources and augments existing water resources with new renewable supplies of water. The authority will accomplish its purposes of helping to meet existing and future water needs of this state by developing or facilitating water conservation, reuse and augmentation projects; the measure also allows the Authority to partner with public or private entities. 

The bill transfers, from the Arizona Finance Authority (AFA) Board of Directors to the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) Board of Directors, governance of WIFA. Expands current powers and duties of WIFA and outlines requirements of other agencies in relation to the expansion. Restructures state funded WIFA funds and expands: 

  1.  fund eligibility to specified entities other than water providers; and 
  2.  fund purposes, including for water importation projects and public-private partnerships. 
  3. Appropriates $3,500,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2023 to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and $1 Billion to WIFA and specified WIFA funds. 

Background 

WIFA

Statute requires the AFA Board of Directors (AFA Board) to serve as the WIFA Board of Directors (WIFA Board), which governs WIFA, and grants the AFA Board all powers and authority to take action on water infrastructure financing. The WIFA Advisory Board advises the AFA Board (A.R.S. §§ 41-5356 and 49-1202). 

WIFA issues loans and bonds and administers the Clean Water Revolving Fund, Drinking Water Revolving Fund, Hardship Grant Fund and Water Supply Development Revolving (WSDRF). 

Fiscal Impact 

S.B. 1740 appropriates $3,500,000 from the state GF in FY 2023 to ADWR and $1B from the state GF in FY 2023 to the WSDRF, the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund (LTWAF) and WIFA. Additionally $200m American Rescue Plan Act dollars are placed in a Water Conservation Grant Fund (WCGF).

WIFA Powers and Duties

The newly formed WIFA board has additional powers and duties to help meet existing and future water needs of Arizona by developing or facilitating water conservation, reuse and augmentation projects.  Powers and duties included to carry out the purposes of the several funds:

  • Provide various financial instruments including loans, grants and bonds 
  • purchase or refinance debt obligations of water providers at or below market rate if the debt obligation was issued for a water supply development purpose 
  • provide financial assistance to water providers with bonding authority to purchase insurance for local bond obligations incurred for water supply development purposes. 
  • negotiate and enter into intergovernmental agreements and agreements with private and public entities within and outside of Arizona, including the United States and other nations
  • contract for or perform feasibility studies of water storage, storage facilities and recovery wells
  • Enter into public and private partnerships
  • Allows for the procurement of services for the development, design, acquisition, construction, improvement or equipment of water-related facilities

     

Other Important Provisions

  • Requires a Water Supply and Demand Assessment to be prepared by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and issued for at least 6 of the 46 groundwater basins not included within initial active management areas yearly. 
  • Prescribes requirements for WIFA to notify entities in Arizona with Colorado River water entitlements of water supply development projects to import water, rather than requiring any entity with an entitlement with reduced deliveries to be provided an opportunity to participate in the project. 
  • For any water supply development project to import water that is proposed to be funded by the authority, the authority must provide written notice of the proposed project to all entities in this state with an entitlement to water from the colorado river, including water delivered through the central arizona project.
  • Requires WIFA to cooperate with established and existing state agencies and political subdivisions of the state and with the United States and other states in the acquisition, construction or development of water-related facilities. 
  • Prohibits WIFA from purchasing or providing loans/grants with LTWAF or WSDF dollars for any mainstream Colorado River water rights to water.  (does not apply to water held by a tribe)
  • The board is subject to significant conflict of interest provisions beyond ordinary conflicts provisions under state law, and the board is subject to open meeting law.

     

  • Prohibits WIFA from entering into any agreements to convey or deliver water to a water user within the incorporated boundaries of a city or town or within the boundaries of a certificate of convenience and necessity of a private water company without the written consent of the city, town or private water company. 
  • Prohibits WIFA from selling or leasing imported water or long-term storage credits acquired in its own name for amounts greater than necessary for the repayment of LTWAF monies.
  • Requires ADWR to provide technical assistance to the WIFA Board

     

Governance

The newly formed WIFA board consists of 9 members.  The bill also establishes several committees to provide recommendations to the board.  

WIFA Board

  • four persons from a county with a population of four hundred thousand persons or more.
  • four persons from a county with a population of less than four hundred thousand persons. 
  • one person who specializes in finance or statewide water needs 

     

The following as advisory members without the power to vote but who may attend executive sessions of the board:

  • the president of the senate or the president's designee
  • the speaker of the house of representatives or the speaker's designee
  • the minority leader of the senate or the minority leader's designee
  • the minority leader of the house of representatives or the minority leader's designee 
  • the director of water resources or the director's designee

     

Water Supply Development Committee

The Committee consists of seven members of the WIFA board to make recommendations on monies in the water supply development fund.  

  • Four members who are from counties with populations of less than 400k persons
  • Two members who are from counties with populations over 400k persons
  • The member of the board appointed by the Governor specializing in finance or state wide water needs

     

Federal Water programs Committee

Consists of the following voting members who are appointed by the Board.  The federal water programs committee reviews applications for financial or other assistance from the clean water revolving fund program, the safe drinking water revolving fund program and the hardship grant fund program and makes recommendations to the board regarding those applications for assistance.

  • one member who represents a public water system that serves five hundred or more connections.
  • one member who represents a public water system that serves less than five hundred connections.
  • one member who represents a domestic water improvement district or sanitary district in a county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons. 
  • one member who represents a domestic wastewater improvement district or sanitary district in a county with a population of five hundred thousand or more persons. 
  • one member who represents a city or town with a population of less than fifty thousand persons. 
  • one member who represents a city or town with a population of fifty thousand or more persons. 
  • one member who represents a county with a population of five hundred thousand or more persons. 
  •  the director of environmental quality or the director's designee. 
  • the director of water resources or the director's designee. 
  • the executive director of the corporation commission or the executive director's designee. 
  • the chief executive officer of the arizona commerce authority or the chief executive officer's designee.
  • the federal water programs committee shall review applications for financial or other assistance from the clean water revolving fund program, the safe drinking water revolving fund program and the hardship grant fund program and shall make recommendations to the board regarding those applications for assistance.

     

Funds

S.B. 1740 establishes three funds to effectuate the legislation.  

The Long Term Water Augmentation Fund

  • 75% of initial deposits to the fund would be allocated for projects that import water into the state
  • the fund can also be used to acquire or construct water related facilities in the state to facilitate importation.
  • monies in the fund can be used to finance or refinance water supply development projects within the state, including projects for conservation through reducing existing water use or more efficient use of water supplies. 
  • Of note any entity that has a colorado river entitlement including water delivered through CAP is to be provided notice whenever the Authority is considering a proposal that imports water into the state
  • lastly loans are required to be repaid

     

Water Supply Development Revolving Fund

  • The fund is Intended to be accessed by rural community water providers including those in portions of Pinal, Maricopa and Pima counties outside of an AMA.
  • Caps on water supply development grants at $2m
  • Allows for loans up to $3m
  • Funds may also be used for conducting water supply studies and for other purposes

     

Water Conservation Grant Fund

  • Purpose of the fund is to improve water reliability, efficiency, groundwater recharge and aquifer health, the fund can also be used for programs that include education, turf removal and drought resistant landscaping.  
  • $200m initial grant program funded by American Rescue Plan Act dollars

     

Effective Date and Severability

  • The bill becomes effective on the general effective date (September 24, 2022)
  • Contains a severability clause

     

Disposition: 7/6 signed by governor. Chap. 366, Laws 2022

First Sponsor : Sen. Kerr (R - Dist 13)
ADWR Position : Support

 

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  • 602-364-2650

 

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