ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House: NREW DPA 5-2-0-3

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

HB 2757: Butler Valley; La Paz; groundwater

Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 19

Caucus & COW

Overview

Modifies eligible entities and regulations regarding the withdrawing of groundwater for the purposes of transporting it away from the Butler Valley groundwater basin.

History

The Butler Valley groundwater basin is in a remote area in Western Arizona within La Paz County and spans 288 square miles. The valley floor covers 150 square miles and is bounded by low mountains: Buckskin Mountains to the North and Granite Wash Mountains to the South. The basin is drained by Cunningham Wash (ADWR).

Current law allows groundwater to be withdrawn from land owned by this state or by a political subdivision of this state in the Butler Valley groundwater basin for transportation to an initial active management area (A.R.S. § 45-553).

Provisions

1.   Specifies that only the La Paz County Board of Supervisors (BOS) as authorized to withdraw groundwater from the Butler Valley basin for transportation. (Sec. 1)

2.   Modifies locations to withdraw groundwater from the Butler Valley groundwater basin for transportation from land owned by the State or any political subdivision of the State to the land owned or leases by the La Paz County BOS. (Sec. 1)

3.   Establishes the following conditions that must be met for groundwater to be transported out of the Buter Valley groundwater basin:

a.   the groundwater be used solely by La Paz County, a political subdivision of the County or a municipal provider within the County for the entities own use; or

b.   the groundwater is sold or leased to a multi-county water conservation district to meet the district's replenishment obligations. (Sec. 1)

4.   Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water

1.   Prohibits the total cumulative volume of groundwater sold or leased to a multi-county water conservation district does not exceed 90% of the total cumulative volume of groundwater available in the Butler Valley groundwater basin to a depth of 1,200ft. (Sec. 1)

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5.   Initials CW                      HB 2757

6.   2/15/2026  Page 0 Caucus & COW

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