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Senate committee advances several bills critics say would weaken protections for subsequent active management areas
Summary
The Arizona Senate Committee of the Whole reported multiple groundwater bills with 'due pass' recommendations after hours of debate. Opponents said the measures risk undercutting groundwater protections for areas designated as subsequent active management areas; sponsors said changes enable flexibility for certain users and technologies.
The Arizona Senate's Committee of the Whole voted to report a package of groundwater-related bills with due-pass recommendations after extended debate over protections for subsequent active management areas (AMAs).
Supporters moved multiple committee recommendations to the floor, including House Bills 2088, 2089, 2202, 2203 and 2270; the committee reported each bill with a due-pass recommendation and in some committee votes members called for divisions or further review. The measures would make a range of changes to statutes that govern groundwater rights and how historical use and recharge are counted for rights in AMAs.
The bills drew sharp criticism from opponents who said they would weaken the statutory protections that led to the creation of subsequent AMAs. “The bill that we see before us is confounding me,” said Senator Sundarization. “I am not sure why we have so many bills that are aiming to undercut our water protections… Groundwater is recharged over many, many years, and it does not occur quickly compared to our ability to withdraw groundwater from these basins.”
Supporters said some changes respond to on-the-ground farming practices and new irrigation technology. Senator Dunn defended a floor amendment and described an irrigation example: converting a center pivot to drip irrigation could allow farming more acres using the same or less water, “This is more crop per drop and allows the increase in production using the same water or less.”
Committee chair Thomas TJ Shope moved the bills and the natural resources committee reported them with amendments in several cases. One committee voice vote on House Bill 2202 produced a recorded committee division that advanced the bill 15 ayes to 13 nays; other measures were advanced without recorded tallies in committee proceedings reported on the floor journal.
Why it matters: Arizona’s AMAs were created to limit groundwater overdraft in basins where pumping outpaced recharge. Opponents told the Senate the package could lock in additional pumping or expand rights in ways that are difficult to reverse; sponsors said the bills add flexibility and reflect modern irrigation practice or modeling improvements.
The package proceeded to third reading on the floor; several of the bills were later approved by the full Senate and transmitted to the House. The committee and floor debate made clear the measures will be closely watched by rural residents, irrigation districts, water managers and environmental interests as the Legislature continues work on groundwater policy.
