House Engrossed

groundwater management; technical correction

(now: for-sale housing; development; groundwater replenishment)

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2003

A Concurrent Resolution

urging support for the building of housing developments outside of designated provider service areas where there is groundwater replenishment as required by assured water supply regulation.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Whereas, home ownership and affordability are important to Arizona’s economy and the residents of this state; and

Whereas, according to the Arizona Department of Housing, Arizona faces a serious housing shortage and affordability crisis and needs 270,000 units to meet current demand; and

Whereas, homeowners have replenished the groundwater used to serve their homes both inside and outside the service area of designated providers since 1995 and all subdivisions built since that time have met the active management area requirements of safe yield; and

Whereas, the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD)is the largest groundwater replenishment district in our country; and

Whereas, by replenishing groundwater to offset homeowner use, the CAGRD has allowed over 400,000 homes to be built in the Tucson, Pinal and Phoenix active management areas (AMA) that do not impact our groundwater tables; and

Whereas, homeowners have not caused the unmet demand as identified in the Phoenix AMA Groundwater model released on June 2, 2023.

Whereas, housing is of vital interest to this state for providing shelter to workers, teachers, service workers, families and veterans.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

That for-sale housing developments should be allowed to be built outside the service area of a designated provider if the development is enrolled in the CAGRD and the groundwater used to serve such homes is replenished as required by the Phoenix, Pinal and Tucson Active Management Arizona Assured Water Supply Rules.