HB 2029 creates a Water Conservation Grant Fund to support water-saving projects in Arizona. It allows eligible entities (like local governments or nonprofits partnering with them) to apply for grants for conservation programs (up to $3 million) or projects (up to $250,000), requiring a 25% match from other sources. Applicants must disclose projected water savings, the source of saved water (groundwater or surface water), and their plan for using the saved water. The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority must adopt implementing rules within 90 days of the bill's effective date.
HB 2781 establishes rules for decommissioning solar energy power plants in Arizona, directly affecting solar plant owners and operators. It requires them to submit detailed decommissioning plans, maintain financial assurance (like bonds) covering cleanup costs, and restore sites to original conditions within 18 months after shutdown. Key provisions include a 90-day cure period for permit violations, mandatory site restoration using native vegetation, and specific removal requirements for above-ground components and foundations. Local governments (cities, towns, counties) enforce these standards and can enter sites to complete decommissioning if owners fail to act. The law ensures solar projects don’t leave environmental or financial burdens on communities after they’re no longer operational.
HCM 2008 is a memorial from Arizona's state legislature requesting the federal government eliminate the gas tax on Arizona's "Cleaner Burning Gas" blend during specific summer months. It targets the federal excise tax applied to this specialized fuel, which is more expensive to produce than standard gasoline but required to meet air quality standards in Maricopa and Pinal counties. The memorial asks Congress to either temporarily exempt this fuel from tax (May 1-Sept. 30) or grant the EPA emergency authority to waive the tax for EPA-approved blends meeting air quality standards. This request directly affects Arizona residents in those counties who use this fuel, aiming to lower local gas prices by removing the tax burden on the specialized blend.
HB 2053 appropriates $100,000 from the state general fund to Arizona's Department of Water Resources for updated stormwater recharge mapping in fiscal year 2026-2027. Within 180 days, the department must collaborate with agricultural districts and the state natural resource conservation board to create a map identifying potential stormwater recharge sites. The map must show locations on public or private lands with suitable soil for groundwater recharge, excluding areas with existing surface water rights or where runoff would enter streams. This bill defines "stormwater" as rainwater runoff that doesn't enter streams and would otherwise evaporate.
HB 2101 amends Arizona's water management statute to clarify and expand the director's authority for groundwater and surface water oversight. It directly affects the state's water director and agencies by authorizing them to develop management plans, investigate water resources, acquire water rights, and coordinate with other entities like the Department of Environmental Quality. Key provisions include enabling the director to form plans for groundwater conservation, collect data on water basins, contract for imported water, and collaborate with federal agencies and Mexican authorities on border water planning. The bill does not create new regulations but updates existing powers to improve water resource management coordination. This is a procedural amendment to the state's water code, not a new policy requiring funding or implementation.
HB 2097 sets a limit of six acre-feet of groundwater per acre annually for irrigation on land legally irrigated between 1975-1980 (in initial areas) or during the five years before a designated area's creation (in subsequent areas). Landowners using groundwater from non-exempt wells who exceed this limit face a $150 penalty per acre, and all users must install approved measuring devices and submit annual reports by March 31. The bill exempts correctional facilities from the six-acre-foot limit if they irrigate up to ten acres for inmate work programs producing food, provided they notify water authorities in advance.
