News/Notes
Today marks the 89th day of the 55h Legislature, 1st Regular Session.
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None at this time
Posted Committee Hearings
None at this time
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 APRIL 9, 2021
Enacted Legislation
Modifies the calculation for groundwater replenishment reserve targets for active management areas within a multi-county water conservation district. 2/18 Signed by the Governor Beginning on the effective date of this legislation, a person who is entitled to the use of water is authorized to file with the Department of Water Resources a water conservation plan notice. Information that must be included in the notice is listed. On filing a water conservation plan notice, the conservation of water pursuant to the plan does not constitute abandonment or forfeiture of the water conserved. A person cannot accrue long-term storage credits for any water that is conserved in a water conservation plan notice. A water conservation plan is required to designate a duration of up to 10 years, and the person filing the notice may file a subsequent notice for one or more periods of up to 10 years. Contains a legislative intent section stating that the Legislature intends that this act apply prospectively only. 2/18 signed by the Governor (laws 2021, chapter 22) Summary: The exemption from irrigation water duties for persons entitled to use groundwater under an irrigation grandfathered right is extended ten years, to December 31, 2034. The exemption from any applicable conservation requirements for the distribution of groundwater for the Arlington Canal Company, the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District and the St. John's Irrigation District is extended ten years, to December 31, 2034. The Director of the Department of Water Resources is required to submit a recommendation to the Governor and the Legislature by November 15, 2031 regarding extending these exemptions. signed by governor; Chap. 4, Laws 2021 The State Land Department (SLD) is required to accept lease renewal applications by mail and is allowed to accept renewal applications electronically. The method by which the renewal application is submitted cannot be a factor in the SLD's determination of whether to renew the lease. Session law requires the State Land Commissioner and the Director of Water Resources to develop a plan to create additional water storage in Arizona that includes investigating acceptable sites to construct new water storage facilities on state trust land and identifying at least six of the most potentially acceptable sites. The Commissioner and the Director are required to submit a report of findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by December 31, 2021. Water storage plan requirements self-repeal January 1, 2024 Signed by Governor 2/24 (laws 2021, chap. 33) Summary: A person who owns acres of land that may be irrigated lawfully is authorized to permanently retire those acres from irrigation and substitute for those acres the same number of acres in the same contiguous farming unit if the owner demonstrates to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) that the legally irrigated acres were damaged by "floodwaters" after being irrigated and that it is not economically feasible to restore the flood damaged acres to irrigation use. A person who owns contiguous acres of land that may be irrigated lawfully is authorized to notify DWR to permanently retire a portion of those acres from irrigation and substitute for the retired acres the same number of acres within the same farm unit, if all of a list of specified conditions apply, including that a "limiting condition" associated with the acres to be retired from irrigation substantially impedes the implementation of efficient irrigation practices on the legally irrigated acres. Does not affect the person's existing or vested rights to the use of water. Summary: The Arizona Water Banking Authority is authorized to distribute long-term water storage credits to Central Arizona Water Conservation District's (CAWCD) municipal and industrial subcontractors. Long-term water storage credits that are distributed to a CAWCD municipal and industrial subcontractor cannot be sold, and the subcontractor is responsible for all fees assessed by the Authority or the Department of Water Resources for the distribution of the long-term storage credits and all costs of recovery of the long-term storage credits. Summary: In the Pinal Active Management Area, for an application to modify or renew a designation of assured water supply, or for a new application for a designation for the same service area to be served by a substitute provider acquiring the assets of the prior provider, if specified conditions apply to the volume of groundwater and stored water, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is prohibited from reviewing the physical availability of groundwater that was determined to be physically available under the previous designation. Does not affect the DWR review of assured water supply criteria other than the physical availability of groundwater and stored water to be recovered outside the area of impact of storage. The following are deemed physically available for purposes of an assured water supply designation: stored water that is to be recovered by the applicant within the "area of impact" (defined) under long-term storage credits pledged to the designation, and stored water that is to be recovered by the applicant within the area of impact of storage either on an annual basis or as long-term storage credits to be earned in the future if the water to be stored meets the physical availability requirements for the water supply. Contains a legislative intent section. 2/12 signed by Governor
HB 2041
First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Neutral
HB 2056
First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Neutral
HB 2078
First Sponsor : Rep. Dunn (R - Dist 13)
ADWR Position : Support
HB 2249
First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Neutral
HB 2441
First Sponsor : Rep. Griffin (R - Dist 14)
ADWR Position : Neutral
SB 1147
First Sponsor : Sen. Kerr (R - Dist 13)
ADWR Position : Neutral
SB 1274
First Sponsor : Sen. Shope (R - Dist 8)
ADWR Position : Neutral