Income tax; credit; savings plans
The implementation of HB 2418 will effectively redefine aspects of state water law, particularly in the interaction between municipal providers and their customers. By granting ownership of uncharged effluent to the customers who provide it, the bill aims to ensure that these customers are compensated fairly for the resource they contribute. This could encourage more efficient water use and management practices among municipal providers, who will be held accountable for the effluent they handle and recharge.
House Bill 2418 proposes amendments to Title 45 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, focusing on the management and compensation of effluent produced by municipal providers. The bill defines 'eligible customers' who are situated in active management areas with specific groundwater goals and outlines the obligations of municipal providers regarding effluent that is produced from wastewater received from these customers. Key to the legislation is the requirement for municipal providers to compensate eligible customers for a proportional share of the market value of effluent that is not recharged back in the customers' active management areas.
While the bill seeks to promote fairness and accountability, it may generate some contention among stakeholders, particularly regarding the financial implications for municipal providers. Concerns have been raised about the potential burden of compliance and the costs associated with determining and compensating effluent value. Additionally, the bill introduces mechanisms for enforcement and challenges faced by eligible customers, signaling a shift towards a more regulated approach to water resource management that could lead to disputes over definitions and compensation calculations.