augmentation; Phoenix; Pinal; Tucson; AMA

HB 2412 amends Arizona water statutes to clarify rules for the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund, which finances water projects. It requires at least 75% of fund monies to support projects importing water or creating new sources *within* Arizona, with a specific focus on supplying water to the Phoenix, Pinal, and Tucson Active Management Areas. The bill prohibits using fund money to purchase existing water from in-state users (except for new sources) or to buy conservation easements. It also mandates that funded projects repay the fund through water rates, fees, or other mechanisms, and adds evaluation criteria prioritizing cost-effectiveness and water security for residents.