 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
water conservation grant fund; disclosure
Purpose
Prescribes disclosure requirements for an eligible entity applying for a grant from the Water Conservation Grant Fund (Fund) that receives water from a multi-county water conservation district.
Background
Eligible entities and nongovernmental organizations that partner with eligible entities may apply for and receive grants from the Fund for a water conservation program or project that complies with statutorily prescribed requirements relating to the purposes and procedures of the Fund. The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) must: 1) prescribe a simplified form and procedure to apply for and approve assistance; 2) establish, by rule, criteria for awarding assistance; 3) determine the order and priority of water conservation programs or projects assisted based on the merits of the application with respect to statutorily prescribed requirements; 4) limit a single water conservation program grant from exceeding $3,000,000 and a single conservation project grant from exceeding $250,000; and 5) require at least a 25 percent match for each water conservation program or project (A.R.S. § 49-1333).
An eligible entity means: 1) a water provider; or 2) any city, town, county, district, commission, authority or other public entity that is organized and that is statutorily outlined or under a voter-approved charter or initiative of Arizona (A.R.S. § 49-1301).
A multi-county water conservation district means a district composed of three or more counties that have joined together for the creation of a district (A.R.S. § 48-3701).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires an eligible entity that receives water from a multi-county water conservation district and applies for a grant from the Fund to disclose:
a) the projected water savings;
b) the source of any water that the project is estimated to save;
c) whether the estimated water to be saved is groundwater or surface water; and
d) the eligible entity's plan for the saved water.
2. Requires WIFA, within 90 days of the general effective date, to adopt rules to implement the prescribed disclosure requirements.
3. Defines eligible entity.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
NREW 1/20/26 DP 9-1-0-0
3rd Read 2/10/26 51-4-5
Prepared by Senate Research
February 26, 2026
SB/SF/ci