House advances water bills: Wilcox groundwater district, 10‑year INA tool, and related measures pass

On the floor Tuesday, legislators approved a package of water bills affecting groundwater governance and irrigation non‑expansion areas (INAs).

Representative Griffin described House Bill 2274 as a measure to provide for “a special election to form a domestic water improvement district in the Wilcox Groundwater Basin,” saying the measure would help residential property owners with their wells. The clerk recorded final passage of HB 2274 as 31 ayes, 23 nays, 6 not voting.

Representative Griffin also explained House Bill 2570 as “another tool in the toolbox” to create a temporary irrigation non‑expansion area (INA) for a 10‑year period that must go to a vote of the people; the Department of Water Resources would review the INA and could renew it if problems persist. The clerk recorded final passage of HB 2570 as 32 ayes, 22 nays, 6 not voting.

Senate Bill 1300, which the House also considered on third reading, contains provisions related to INAs including emergency‑measure language for some areas; Representative Griffin noted it would place a measure before voters and involve county supervisors in control of the vote. The House passed SB 1300 without the emergency measure by a recorded vote of 31 ayes, 23 nays, 6 not voting.

Why it matters: The measures give local communities and county supervisors procedural tools to create districts or temporary INAs aimed at conserving groundwater or organizing water delivery in rural areas. They also establish timelines for review and potential renewal and require voter involvement for certain actions.

What’s next: The bills were signed in open session and the clerk was instructed to convey the enacted measures to the governor.