STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Gail Griffin, Chairman of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, issued the following statement regarding the work that House and Senate Republicans are doing to address water issues in urban and rural Arizona:

Republican lawmakers continue to lead efforts to advance critical water legislation that increases Arizona’s water supplies, secures the state’s water future, and reduces groundwater use in both urban and rural areas.

In suburban areas like Buckeye, Queen Creek, and Sun City, Republicans have been fighting to preserve the American Dream of homeownership while protecting Arizona’s water resources. We have supported reasonable, commonsense policies that help to conserve water and enable new housing development to prevent the loss of $2 billion in real GDP and make housing affordable again for Arizona families.

• HB2094 (Griffin) – Addresses land developments that avoid water laws of the state.
• HB2103 (Griffin) – Allocates $1 million to defend Arizona’s rights to the Colorado River. 
• HB2204 (Griffin) – Prohibits the state from requiring builders to subsidize other users.
• HB2297 (Griffin) – Provides an alternative method for cities to demonstrate a 100-year water supply.
• HB2299 (Griffin) – Allows certificate applications to be reviewed under the correct rules.
• HB2568 (Griffin) – Saves water by adding conservation requirements for industrial use.
• SB1114 (Dunn) – Saves water by allowing builders to accept a 15% reduction to permits.
• SB1115 (Dunn) – Addresses unmet demand by ensuring accurate “demand calculators.”
• SB1116 (Dunn) – Addresses unmet demand by ensuring accurate groundwater models. 
• SB1134 (Shope) – Prohibits the state from abusing the legal process for water permits.
• SB1236 (Petersen) – Incentivizes the development of new stormwater recharge projects.
• SB1521 (Dunn) – Allows builders to transfer unbuilt permits to shovel-ready projects.
• SB1523 (Dunn) – Saves water by prohibiting water-intensive greenery for new housing.
• SB1530 (Petersen) – Ensures water providers can access stored groundwater.
• SB1611 (Shope) – “Ag-to-Urban”; saves water by converting farmland to new housing.

In Pinal County, Republicans have advanced additional water bills that are essential to this area.

• HB2753 (Martinez) – Allows water providers in Pinal to participate in new water rules.
• SB1616 (Shope) – Allows Pinal County to raise funds for critical new water supplies.

In rural areas, like Mohave, Cochise, Yavapai, and La Paz Counties, Republicans have sponsored multiple bills aimed at addressing domestic wells, conserving water, increasing local control, making existing tools more workable for rural areas, obtaining critical data, and expanding groundwater recharge efforts. These measures also support affordable housing in areas where Arizona needs it most.

·         HB2084 (Griffin) – Allows residents to establish water hauling districts for new supplies. 

·         HB2086 (Griffin) – Provides funds for residents to install storage tanks for water hauling.

·         HB2088 (Griffin) – Gives the state more control over state-imposed water regulations.

·         HB2089 (Griffin) – Gives local voters more control over voter-imposed water regulations.

·         HB2202 (Griffin) – Allows farmers to switch to less water intensive crops.

·         HB2203 (Griffin) – Ensures a fair water right is given when new regulations are adopted.

·         HB2270 (Griffin) – Ensures groundwater models account for new groundwater recharge.

·         HB2271 (Griffin) – Provides critical groundwater data that has previously been omitted.

·         HB2273 (Griffin) – Appropriates $50 million for on-farm irrigation efficiency projects.

·         HB2274 (Griffin) – Gives residents the opportunity to establish a Willcox water district.

·         HB2570 (Griffin) – Temporarily pauses all new groundwater pumping for 10 years.

·         HB2572 (Griffin) – Makes existing groundwater tools more workable for rural areas.

·         HB2573 (Griffin) – Exempts low-water use crops like wine grapes from onerous regulations.

·         HB2574 (Griffin) – Allows counties to adopt “Small Land Divisions” for new housing.

·         HB2638 (Griffin) – Extends the on-farm irrigation efficiency program for 3 years.

·         HB2727 (Biasiucci) – Gives La Paz County greater local control over its water future.

·         HB2731 (Nguyen) – Protects the Verde River while enabling water for the Tri-City area.

·         HB2737 (Gillette) – Supports groundwater remediation projects in rural areas.

·         HCM2003 (Griffin) – Urges the development of 331 sites for stormwater recharge.

·         SB1448 (Dunn) – Appropriates $10 million for on-farm irrigation efficiency projects.

·         SB1518 (Dunn) – Allows farmers to use water in the most efficient ways possible.

·         SB1520 (Dunn) – Requires 10% groundwater reductions over 10 years.

Collectively, these bills not only conserve water for the aquifer but ensure long-term supplies for other users. They protect rural economies while increasing the critical housing supply needed across the state.

While some of these bills provide immediate solutions, others reflect an ongoing conversation that Republicans have been actively engaged in for years, holding hundreds of stakeholder meetings and dedicating thousands of hours to crafting solutions that work.

Unfortunately, many of these bills have advanced along party lines. While Republicans support additional water management tools, Democrats have voted against them. Republicans remain committed to working with stakeholders and the Governor to develop balanced water policy solutions that support housing and agriculture in urban and rural Arizona.

I would be happy to sit down with the Governor to go through each of my bills one-by-one. I hope the Governor will take me up on this offer.

Gail Griffin is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 19, which includes areas of Greenlee, Graham, Cochise, and eastern Pima and Santa Cruz Counties. She also serves as Chairman of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee.