ARIZONA STATE SENATE
RESEARCH STAFF
TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY &
WATER COMMITTEE
DATE: March 19, 2024
SUBJECT: Strike everything amendment to H.B. 2022, relating to water improvement district;
Willcox basin
Purpose
Requires the Cochise County Board of Supervisors (BOS), within 90 days after the
signature of the Governor, to consider whether to place on the ballot for the November 2024
general election, for the residents of Cochise County that reside within the Willcox Groundwater
Basin, the question of whether to establish a domestic water improvement district that would
operate as outlined.
Background
When the public interest or convenience requires, the board of directors of an improvement
district may order the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, maintenance or repair of
waterworks, including drinking water treatment facilities, for the delivery of water for domestic
purposes, and of wells, ditches, canals, channels, conduits, pipelines and siphons, together with
the necessary or usual appurtenances for carrying stormwater or water from irrigation ditches,
watercourses, streams or springs into, through or out of the district in, under, over or through any
street, or any land of the district or any right-of-way granted or obtained for such a purpose, either
within or without the district limits (A.R.S. ยง 48-909).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Cochise County BOS, within 90 days after the signature of the Governor, to
consider whether to place on the ballot for the November 2024 general election, for the
residents of Cochise County that reside within the Willcox Groundwater Basin, the question
of whether to establish a domestic water improvement district that would operate as outlined.
2. Allows the outlined domestic water improvement district to be established only in the portion
of the Willcox Groundwater Basin that is located within Cochise County.
3. Allows the outlined domestic water improvement district to provide for the delivery of drinking
water for domestic uses, including by constructing waterworks and provide for delivery of
drinking water by water hauling to residents in the Willcox Groundwater Basin that are located
within the boundaries of the domestic water improvement district.
RACHEL ANDREWS
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST
NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & WATER
COMMITTEE
Telephone: (602) 926-3171 STRIKER MEMO
H.B. 2022
Page 2
4. Allows the outlined domestic water improvement district to provide for the construction of
active or passive stormwater infrastructure in the basin for the purpose of increasing
groundwater recharge in the basin.
5. States that the outlined domestic water improvement district would have the powers and duties
as otherwise provided by law for domestic water improvement districts.
6. Requires the Cochise County BOS to establish the proposed boundaries of the domestic water
improvement district if the BOS determines that the question must be placed on the November
2024 general election ballot, and must make publicly available the boundaries of the proposed
domestic water improvement district before the election.
7. States that all qualified electors who are registered to vote and reside within the boundaries of
the proposed domestic water improvements districts are eligible to vote on the question
prescribed.
8. Outlines information that must be stated on the ballot.
9. Establishes the domestic water improvement district if a majority of those qualified electors
voting on the question approve the formation of the domestic water improvement district.
10. Deems the Cochise County BOS to be the Board of Directors of the established domestic water
improvement district.
11. States that the prescribed formation election is sufficient to establish the domestic water
improvement district and a petition and related procedures to establish the district is not
required.
12. Adds standpipes to the definition of waterworks.
13. Allows an improvement district to be established in any unincorporated area for the purpose
of constructing a domestic water delivery system for the purpose of water hauling.
14. Allows a board of directors of an improvement district, when the public interest or convenience
requires, to order the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, maintenance or repair of
waterworks, including wells, standpipes and drinking water facilities, for the delivery of water
for domestic purposes, including delivery by way of water hauling, and of wells, dry wells,
retention basins, and storing or recharging stormwater.
15. Makes technical and conforming changes.
16. Becomes effective on signature of the Governor, if emergency clause is enacted.