Votes at a glance: Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee (Feb. 16, 2026)
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Summary
Committee recommended due-pass for a series of bills on water, energy and environmental policy and held or failed a small number of measures after stakeholder debate. Key actions: HB2099 (storage credits) passed as amended; HB2263 (replenishment locations) passed as amended; HB2843 (plug-in solar) held; HB4100 (CAP notice) failed; HB2889 (uranium monitoring) passed; HB2782 (utility transparency) passed as amended.
The Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee recorded the following outcomes on Feb. 16, 2026:
- House Bill 2099 (long-term storage credits and CAP water storage during declared shortages): Adopted Griffin amendment and returned with due-pass recommendation; roll-call announced 6 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent. (Discussion: utilities, ADWR, municipal providers and tribal representatives.)
- House Bill 2263 (limits on where main-stem Colorado River water may be used for replenishment in AMAs): Adopted Griffin amendment and returned with due-pass recommendation; roll-call announced 6 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent. (Discussion: CAP and tribal concerns about excluded facilities.)
- House Bill 22 64 (University of Arizona mining/mineral museum promotion): Passed with due-pass recommendation (9 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent).
- House Bill 2330 / 2341 (certificate of environmental compatibility updates): Both passed with due-pass recommendations after minor amendments (tallies announced in committee).
- House Bill 28 89 (uranium contamination monitoring — $1M appropriation): Passed with due-pass recommendation (9 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent); sponsor discussed possible amendment to move implementation to ADEQ.
- House Bill 27 82 (utility regulatory asset transparency): Griffin amendment adopted and bill passed as amended (vote recorded per transcript).
- House Bill 28 43 (portable plug-in solar devices): Extensive testimony from manufacturers, nonprofits and utilities; committee held the bill for additional stakeholder work on safety standards, verification and limits.
- House Bill 4 100 (emergency municipal notice of CAP-loss cost estimates): Substantial opposition from municipalities and water providers over feasibility and timing; bill failed in committee (2 ayes, 6 nays, 2 absent).
- House Bill 27 57 (Butler Valley transportation basin/La Paz County authority): Passed as amended with due-pass recommendation after discussion.
Several other energy and water bills on the calendar were moved with due-pass recommendations after brief presentations and minor amendments. Committee members repeatedly urged sponsors to continue stakeholder engagement on items that raised technical, tribal or utility-operations questions.