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Committee advances suite of water bills on funding, recharge, recovery and local authority after robust debate
Summary
The committee returned several water bills with do‑pass recommendations, including a Pinal County bond modernization, underground storage tank fund reporting and deadlines, revisions on stormwater recharge credits, recovery-well procedures, and a measure addressing a Welton local‑expenditure penalty; many measures drew stakeholder reservations and calls for additional stakeholder work.
A cluster of water bills moved through the Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee on March 24 after technical presentations and substantial stakeholder comment. Lawmakers advanced several measures with due‑pass recommendations while noting several items would require further negotiation or technical fixes.
Key actions and takeaways:
• SB 11‑34 (Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority): Supporters, including Pinal County Supervisor Steve Miller and the Authority’s executive director Joe Singleton, said the bill modernizes statutory language so the Authority may issue revenue bonds to finance infrastructure projects. Local officials said the changes reflect technical advice from bond counsel; the committee returned the bill with a due‑pass recommendation (9 ayes).
• SB 17‑30 (UST revolving fund): The bill requires ADEQ to report on the underground storage tank revolving fund preapproval process and sets a one‑year deadline for applicants to file reimbursement claims after project completion, with a 02/01/2026 backstop for earlier projects; the Petroleum Marketing Association supported the measure and the committee passed it (9 ayes, 1 absent).
• SB 12‑36 (stormwater recharge and replenishment credits): The bill authorizes stormwater recharged into constructed underground storage as a permitted source that can generate replenishment credits and directs ADWR to credit 95% of recharged volume as replenishment credits. Salt River Project, municipal water users and others raised concerns about double counting, definition of stormwater and measurement; the committee passed the bill but witnesses urged further stakeholder work.
• SB 15‑30 (recovery well application): Sponsors proposed a 1‑mile area‑of‑impact standard for recovery wells adjacent to constructed underground storage facilities; municipal water users opposed expansive impact areas but proponents said codification brings certainty. The committee passed the bill (6 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent).
• SB 15‑21 (Welton expenditure penalty): After testimony from Welton officials showing a 2020 census undercount reduced the town’s expenditure limit and produced a one‑time overexpenditure, the committee adopted a strike‑everything amendment to relieve an otherwise punitive penalty and returned the measure with a do‑pass recommendation.
Across these items, ADWR, AMWUA, SRP, municipalities, farm groups and others signaled willingness to continue technical negotiations on measurement standards, statutory definitions and implementation guardrails.
What’s next: Bills proceed to the floor with committee recommendations. Several witnesses asked for post‑committee stakeholder sessions and technical fixes prior to floor debate or implementation.
