House Bill 2015 proposes amendments to the Arizona Revised Statutes relating to groundwater management. The bill specifies that a groundwater basin or subbasin not already included within an Active Management Area (AMA) or Irrigation Non-Expansion Area (INA) can be designated as such upon a petition by 10% of registered voters who receive their drinking water from that basin or subbasin. The petitioner must be a resident of the basin or subbasin and receive drinking water from it. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Director must transmit to the county recorder all materials that can aid in determining who are eligible voters or petitioners, including a map of the residences that receive drinking water from the basin or subbasin.

The bill also requires any public comment session, stakeholder process, or public hearing initiated or hosted by ADWR related to the establishment of a subsequent AMA or INA to be held within the groundwater basin or subbasin subject to potential designation. The ADWR Director must present factual data supporting and opposing the proposed action and explain the potential impact of the designation to all interested stakeholders. If a groundwater basin is located in two or more counties, the petition must be signed by 10% of registered voters who receive their drinking water from the basin or subbasin. An INA can be designated an AMA upon petition and election by the registered voters who reside in and obtain drinking water from the basin that is or includes the INA.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-415, 45-433, 45-439, 16-168, 19-111
House Engrossed Version: 45-413, 45-415, 45-433, 45-435, 45-439, 45-412, 16-168, 19-111, 45-432