Environment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 1335: water banking; annual report; posting

SB 1335 requires Arizona's water banking commission to submit an annual report by July 1st each year, detailing all transactions and activities related to the state's water banking fund. The report must include specific financial accounting (monies expended and remaining), water storage volumes, long-term credit distributions, and a 10-year plan for future water banking services - including protecting against Colorado River shortages and supporting tribal water rights settlements. The commission must also post this report on its public website. This bill focuses solely on transparency and reporting requirements for the existing water banking program.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates annual reporting on water banking including 10-year plan to protect against Colorado River shortages and support tribal water rights, directly advancing water resource conservation.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

vetoed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1445: water quality; testing; on-site

SB 1445 modifies Arizona's water quality regulations to allow small municipalities (with populations between 1,000 and 10,000) to use EPA-approved on-site equipment for bacteriological testing of wastewater. It updates permit requirements for facilities discharging pollutants, including specifying that small towns may conduct this testing on-site instead of sending samples to external labs. The bill directly affects local governments and wastewater facilities in smaller communities by streamlining testing procedures while maintaining EPA standards. It also clarifies permit processes for aquifer protection and aligns with federal Clean Water Act requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllows small municipalities to use EPA-approved on-site testing for wastewater, maintaining regulatory standards while improving efficiency for water quality compliance.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

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vetoed · Arizona · House Jun 19, 2026

HB 2013: exceptional events; air quality; wildfires

HB 2013 amends Arizona's air quality statute to clarify how the state handles "exceptional events" like wildfires. It requires the state air quality agency to develop policy statements for such events, considering Arizona's unique conditions, and mandates submitting wildfire-related demonstrations to the U.S. EPA if federally managed wildfires affect the state. The bill also adds a requirement for the agency to issue daily PM-10 dust forecasts for nonattainment areas, identifying risk levels based on weather, pollution data, and historical patterns. These changes directly affect the state air quality agency's procedures for managing air pollution during extreme events.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates daily PM-10 forecasts for pollution monitoring during wildfires, strengthening air quality management during exceptional events per Arizona's unique conditions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

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signed · Arizona · House Jun 13, 2026

HB 4157: commerce; 2026-2027

This bill updates how money from Arizona's state lottery is distributed and clarifies rules for examining insurance companies. It ensures that funds are first used to pay off lottery-related bond debts, then allocates specific amounts to various programs including wildlife conservation, child safety, health education, and homeless shelters. The legislation also establishes a minimum deposit requirement for the state general fund before certain heritage funds can receive money and sets a schedule for quarterly transfers. Additionally, it mandates that the insurance director examine domestic insurers at least once every five years and allows for accepting reports from other states to avoid duplicate reviews.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates lottery funds to essential programs like wildlife conservation, child safety, and homeless shelters, directly funding public services.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates lottery funds specifically to wildlife conservation programs, directly supporting environmental protection efforts.65% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly allocates funds to homeless shelters, directly supporting housing assistance and homelessness prevention.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Arizona · House Jun 13, 2026

HB 4159: environment; 2026-2027

This bill establishes annual groundwater withdrawal fees for users in Arizona's Prescott, Santa Cruz, Tucson, Phoenix, and Pinal active management areas, with a maximum rate of $5 per acre-foot. The collected funds are allocated to cover administrative costs, water supply augmentation, conservation assistance, water banking, and the purchase of older water rights, while also exempting small-scale irrigation operations. Additionally, the legislation creates a dedicated fund to finance the construction and rehabilitation of wells and infrastructure for irrigation districts in specific regions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes groundwater fees to fund conservation, water banking, and purchase of older water rights, directly protecting natural resources.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

failed · Arizona · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 2494: certificate; environmental compatibility; zoning; exemption

HB 2494 creates special zoning districts for aggregate mining operations in Arizona counties. It requires county boards to establish these districts based on petitions from residents near existing operations and form committees with equal representation from mining operators and community members to set local rules. The bill exempts aggregate mining from standard zoning restrictions within designated districts while requiring operators to follow specific environmental and operational standards for dust, noise, and site reclamation. This directly affects counties establishing zoning districts and aggregate mining operators seeking to expand or operate within these areas.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates specific environmental standards for aggregate mining operations within designated zones, requiring operators to comply with environmental protections despite zoning exemptions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

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signed · Arizona · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2078: reclamation plans; aggregate mining; notice

HB 2078 updates Arizona's requirements for reclamation plans at aggregate mining sites. It requires mining operators to notify residential property owners within a half-mile of the operation about proposed reclamation plans, using prior public notices (like zoning applications) if published within that radius. The bill specifies that reclamation plans must include detailed measures for erosion control, revegetation, safety for hazardous areas, and post-mining land use. These changes apply to new reclamation plans submitted on or after September 15, 2024.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires detailed erosion control, revegetation, and safety measures in mining reclamation plans, strengthening post-mining environmental restoration standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

passed both · Arizona · House Apr 21, 2026

HCR 2020: for-sale housing; development; groundwater replenishment

HCR 2020 is a non-binding legislative resolution expressing support for for-sale housing developments outside designated water service areas, provided they enroll in the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) and replenish groundwater as required by Arizona's water rules. It directly affects new housing projects in Phoenix, Pinal, and Tucson active management areas by requiring groundwater replenishment to offset usage. The resolution highlights that CAGRD has enabled over 400,000 homes to be built without impacting groundwater tables since 1995, aligning with existing state water management requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires groundwater replenishment for housing developments, conserving a natural resource per Arizona water rules.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

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signed · Arizona · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 1503: public pensions; proxy voting

SB 1503 requires Arizona public pension funds to vote shares solely in the economic interest of plan participants and beneficiaries, directly affecting state-run pension managers and proxy advisory firms. It mandates that if a pension fund votes against a company's board recommendation (with majority independent directors), it must provide a documented economic analysis proving the vote aligns with financial goals, not environmental or ideological aims. Funds must annually report such votes and analyses to the state treasurer and back-test their economic models every three years to ensure accuracy. The bill prohibits using votes to advance non-financial goals unless an economic analysis confirms financial benefits, with strict certification requirements for all documentation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires economic analysis for pension votes, promoting fiscal responsibility in state fund management per bill's mandate to align with financial goals over ideology.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill explicitly prohibits pension funds from considering environmental factors in voting decisions, restricting environmental considerations from influencing investment choices.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Arizona · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 2278: financial assurance; reclamation; escrow; trusts

HB 2278 updates Arizona's requirements for mining companies to provide financial assurance to cover future land reclamation costs after operations end. It specifies that mining operators must use approved mechanisms like surety bonds, trust funds, or cash deposits held in third-party escrow accounts. The bill clarifies that mining companies retain all interest earned on cash deposits in escrow accounts (minus fees), and allows partial release of funds as reclamation work progresses. It also standardizes procedures for inspectors to release financial assurance once reclamation is completed, retaining 10% for monitoring and potential reseeding over a three-year period.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates financial assurance for mining reclamation, ensuring environmental restoration funds are available to protect natural resources after operations end.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment