ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

SAWYER BESSLER

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 14, 2025

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1393, relating to groundwater replenishments; Pinal AMA

Purpose

Allows a municipal provider that applies for a new designation of assured water supply in the Pinal Active Management Area (AMA) that relies on a member service area agreement to elect for all parcels of member land in the municipal service area to retain a replenishment obligation.

Background

Current statute requires a multi-county water conservation district to: 1) establish annually the costs and expenses to replenish groundwater with respect to all parcels of member lands and all member service areas located in each AMA; and 2) provide for the payment of all costs and expenses to replenish groundwater and the payment of operation, maintenance, replacement and administrative costs and expenses of the district. A multi-county water conservation district may also: 1) develop, construct, operate, maintain, replace and acquire permits for water storage, facilities and recovery wells for replenishment purposes; and 2) acquire, hold, exchange, own, lease, retire or dispose of water rights for the benefit of member lands and member service areas (A.R.S. § 48-3772).

For each AMA in which member lands or member service areas are or may be located, the multi-county water conservation district must replenish groundwater in an amount equal to the groundwater replenishment obligation for that AMA. A municipal provider that submits an application for a new designation of assured water supply in the Phoenix AMA that relies on a member service area agreement may elect for all parcels of member land in the municipal service area to retain a replenishment obligation. For parcels of member land that retain a replenishment obligation, the multi-county water conservation district must replenish groundwater in an amount equal to the obligation applicable to that parcel of member land (A.R.S. § 48-3771).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Allows a municipal provider that applies for a new designation of assured water supply in the Pinal AMA that relies on a member service area agreement to elect for all parcels of member land in the municipal service area to retain a replenishment obligation.

2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.