HB 2727
Initials CW Page 1 Natural Resources, Energy & Water
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
HB 2727: county water authority; post-2024 authority
S/E: county water authority; Harquahala INA
Sponsor: Representative Biasiucci, LD 30
Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Summary of the Strike Everything Amendment to HB2727
Overview
Modifies the current process to establish a County Water Authority (Authority).
History
Laws 1994, Chapter 54 established provisions relating to formation, appointment of and
administration by a board of directors, powers and duties, contracts and financial provisions.
An authority may be formed in any county with a population of more than 90,000 and less
than 120,000 persons. The members of an authority shall include municipal corporations that
have contracts with the U.S. for delivery of Colorado River water as of January 1, 1993. The
authority is authorized to develop, manage and operate water projects and participate in
contracts relating to Colorado River water rights (A.R.S. Title 45, chapter 13).
Current law identifies four groundwater basins and sub-basins from which groundwater can
be withdrawn and transported to an initial AMA. Those basins are: 1) McMullen Valley; 2)
Butler Valley; 3) Harquahala Irrigation Non expansion Area (INA); and 4) Big Chino sub-
basin of the Verde River groundwater basin. Transportation of groundwater from these
basins is subject to limitations and transportation fees, as outlined in statute (A.R.S. §§ 45-
551, 45-554 and 45-556).
Provisions
1. Modifies requirements that apply to forming an Authority to include a county that
includes a portion of the Harquahala INA and does not include any portion of an AMA.
(Sec. 2)
2. Outlines qualifications to serve on the board of directors of an Authority formed in the
Harquahala INA, including a board member from the BOS of the county in which the
Authority is formed. (Sec. 2)
3. Reduces the number of newspapers where notice of the Authority's formation must be
published, from three to one. (Sec. 2)
4. Prescribes formation, exemptions and organization for an Authority formed in a county
that includes the Harquahala INA (Sec. 2, 3 and 4)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2727
Initials CW Page 2 Natural Resources, Energy & Water
5. Allows an Authority to include other sources of water, in addition to Colorado River water,
in conservation plans. (Sec. 5)
6. Clarifies provisions relating to an Authority’s ability to acquire and dispose of various
sources of water including Colorado River water and groundwater from the Harquahala
INA as authorized by law. (Sec. 7)
7. Outlines distribution and allocation of an authority’s revenues for grants, acquisition and
operations. (Sec. 8)
8. Provides technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8)