Assigned to NR AS PASSED BY ADD COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2274
technical correction; assured water supply
(NOW: water improvement district; Willcox basin)
Purpose
Allows the Cochise County Board of Supervisors (BOS), by July 2, 2026, to vote to place
a question on the 2026 general election ballot for the residents of Cochise County that reside within
the Willcox Groundwater Basin on whether to establish a domestic water improvement district.
Background
An improvement district may be established in any unincorporated area by the board of
supervisors of the county in which the proposed district is located, for the purpose of constructing
and operating a wastewater treatment facility and making other local improvements or acquisitions
in the district for the benefit of the district that are permitted by statute. The county board of
supervisors may issue bonds or make other contractual arrangements for improvements and levy
taxes for the operation and maintenance of improvements within the district for the benefit of the
district (A.R.S. § 48-902).
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 storm water 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. § 48-909).
A domestic water improvement district is a county improvement district that is formed for
the purpose of constructing a domestic wastewater treatment facility or purchasing an existing
domestic wastewater treatment facility within the district and, if necessary, making improvements
to the system or a converted district (A.R.S. § 48-1011).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Cochise County BOS, by July 2, 2026, to place on an open meeting agenda the
issue of whether to establish a water improvements program.
FACT SHEET – Amended
H.B. 2274
Page 2
2. Allows the Cochise County BOS, by July 2, 2026, to vote on the issue of whether to establish
a water improvements program and, if established, what the program parameters should be.
3. Allows the Cochise County BOS, by July 2, 2026, to vote to place a question on the 2026
general election ballot for the residents of Cochise County that reside within the Willcox
Groundwater Basin on whether to establish a domestic water improvement district.
4. Stipulates that the domestic water improvement district:
a) may be established only in the portion of the Willcox Groundwater Basin that is located
within Cochise County;
b) may provide for the delivery of drinking water for domestic uses, including by constructing
and operating a standpipe, and may 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;
c) may provide for the construction of active or passive stormwater infrastructure in the
Willcox Groundwater Basin for the purpose of increasing groundwater recharge in the
basin; and
d) would have the powers and duties provided by law for domestic water improvement
districts.
5. Requires the Cochise County BOS to establish the proposed boundaries of the domestic water
improvement district if the Cochise County BOS votes to place the question on the ballot.
6. Requires the Cochise County BOS to make the boundaries of the proposed domestic water
improvement district publicly available before the election.
7. Stipulates that all qualified electors who reside within the boundaries of the proposed domestic
water improvement district are eligible to vote on the question of whether to establish a
domestic water improvement district.
8. Prescribes the question on the ballot of whether to establish a domestic water improvement
district.
9. Determines that if a majority of qualified electors voting on the question vote to approve the
formation of the domestic water improvement district, the domestic water improvement district
is established.
10. Deems that the Cochise County BOS is the board of directors of the domestic water
improvement district.
11. Determines that the outlined formation election is sufficient to establish the domestic water
improvement district and a petition and related procedures to establish the domestic water
improvement district are not required.
12. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
FACT SHEET – Amended
H.B. 2274
Page 3
Amendments Adopted by Additional Committee of the Whole
1. Requires the Cochise County BOS by July 2, 2026, to place on an open meeting agenda the
issue of whether to establish a water improvements program.
2. Allows the Cochise County BOS, by July 2, 2026, to vote on the issue of whether to establish
a water improvements program and, if established, what the program parameters should be.
3. Allows the Cochise County BOS, by July 2, 2026, rather than within 90 days after the general
effective date, to vote to place a question on the 2026 general election ballot, rather than call a
special election, on the question of whether to establish a domestic water improvement district.
4. Makes conforming changes.
House Action Senate Action
NREW 2/14/25 DPA/SE 6-3-0-1 NR 3/18/25 DP 4-3-1
3
rd
Read 2/26/25 31-28-1
(W/O Emergency)
Prepared by Senate Research
April 17, 2025
SB/slp