ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House: NREW DP 6-4-0-0

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2056: appropriation; brackish groundwater; feasibility study

Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 19

House Engrossed

Overview

Directs the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to conduct a feasibility study of potential brackish groundwater desalination project sites with outlined requirements and appropriates $100,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2027 to ADWR for the study.

History

The FY 2024 budget appropriated $100,000 from the state GF to ADWR for an updated Brackish Groundwater Study.

The FY 2024 budget also appropriated $11,000,000 from the state GF to ADWR for a brackish groundwater recovery pilot program. Of the $11,000,000 appropriated, $2,000,000 was allocated to ADWR for a brackish groundwater desalination demonstration program and to develop knowledge pertaining to groundwater recovery and desalination in active management areas (AMAs). The remaining $9,000,000 was allocated for matching program participants dollar-for-dollar for projects within AMAs undertaken for the benefit of those receiving water from the Central Arizona Project (CAP). CAP is to receive three dollars for every dollar it contributes to the pilot program (Laws 2023, Chapter 133). 

ADWR contracted with outside water resource consulting group Montgomery & Associates (M&A) to conduct the study, which was completed in June 2024. M&A reviewed public datasets from wells in Arizona and delineated 21 study areas with characteristics related to water chemistry, groundwater conditions and infrastructure (M&A Updated Brackish Groundwater Report).

Provisions

1.   Appropriates $100,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADWR for a feasibility study of potential brackish groundwater desalination sites. (Sec. 1)

2.   Specifies that the study must be conducted in Wilcox, Ranegras Plain, the Hualapai valley and the Little Colorado River plateau. (Sec. 1)

3.   Requires ADWR consult with the State Land Department, local officials, political subdivisions and property owners in or around each studied area to identify information regarding the feasibility of constructing and operating brackish groundwater recovery and treatment facilities. (Sec. 1)

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7.   Initials CW/GG               HB 2056

8.   2/24/2026  Page 0 House Engrossed

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