ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

HB 2549: appropriation; subsequent AMA; assistance grants

Sponsor: Representative Diaz, LD 19

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Overview

Appropriates monies from the state General Fund (GF) to the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) to award grants to persons that own land in areas that have been designated as a subsequent active management area (AMA).

History

Laws 1989, Chapter 280 established the Wastewater Management Authority of Arizona (WMA) and allowed cities, town, counties and sanitary districts to borrow money or receive financial assistance from the WMA. Laws 1998, Chapter 72 repealed the WMA and established WIFA. Laws 2022, Chapter 366 reestablished WIFA as a separate state agency. Both the WMA and WIFA were responsible for providing source of funding and other assistance for public water testament projects. In 2022, WIFA's authority was expanded to provide financial resources for projects relating to water supply development in order to improve current and long-term water supplies (Laws 2022, Chapter 366). WIFA may issue bonds, enter into short-term emergency loan agreements and administer federal grants. WIFA administers the Clean Water Revolving Fund; the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Fund; the Hardship Grant Fund; the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund; the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund; and the Water Conservation Grant Fund (A.R.S. §§ 49 – 1203 and 49-1203.01).

Provisions

1. Appropriates from the state GF in fiscal year 2025-2026 to WIFA to award financial assistance grants to persons that own land in a groundwater basin that has been designated as a subsequent AMA. (Sec. 1)

2. Outlines that the grants be used to contract for services of outside advisors, attorneys, consultants and aides to enable persons to:

a) challenge the designation of the subsequent AMA; and

b) challenge the management goal or management plan or to challenge the maximum amount of groundwater that was computed that the person may use, if the land was legally irrigated in whole or in part with groundwater any time during the five years preceding the designation of the subsequent AMA. (Sec.1)

3. Provides definition of subsequent active management area. (Sec. 1)

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7. HB 2549

8. Initials CW Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy & Water

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