state waters; rules; ecological services.

HB 2249 amends Arizona's water quality laws to update the state's regulatory framework for discharges into protected waters. It requires the director to adopt rules creating a permit program for point-source discharges into "WOTUS" (Waters of the United States) that aligns with federal Clean Water Act standards, while establishing specific exemptions for agricultural activities (like farming, ranching, and irrigation maintenance), recharge projects, and existing water infrastructure. The bill also mandates rules for nonpoint source pollution control, aquifer protection permits, and reclaimed water reuse, with fees collected for permits deposited into a dedicated water quality fund. These changes directly affect businesses, farms, and water management entities that discharge pollutants into Arizona's waters.