mesquite; drought tolerant plants; prohibition

HB 2146 prohibits Arizona municipalities in designated water management areas from requiring minimum turf grass installations (except for specific public spaces like sports fields) or mandating non-drought-tolerant plants. It specifically bans the state department from including mesquite trees on its official list of approved low-water-use plants. This bill directly affects local governments in water-stressed regions and homeowners/developers subject to municipal landscaping rules. The key provision replaces existing plant requirements with a strict prohibition on mesquite inclusion in the state's drought-tolerant plant list.