HB 2691 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

groundwater replenishment districts; annual dues

HB 2691 establishes an annual dues system for Arizona groundwater replenishment districts. It requires districts to charge dues on properties (member lands) and municipal water providers (member service areas) by August 3 each year. Dues are calculated based on projected water use for properties and annual water demand for cities, funding district costs like acquiring water rights, building infrastructure, and paying bond debt for replenishment projects. These dues become a lien on properties and must be collected like other water-related assessments. The bill directly affects property owners in designated groundwater areas and cities managing water supplies within replenishment districts.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Signed May 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Engrossed Version → Chaptered Version · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Arizona Revised Statutes section 48-3779 governing groundwater replenishment districts, primarily clarifying how annual membership dues are calculated and allocated between member lands and municipal service areas. The changes add new subsections establishing makeup charges for service areas when dues increase, clarify interest calculations, and create a special fund for dues collection. A new Section 2 limits dues rates for the 2026-2027 billing year to prevent sudden increases.

Scope change

The bill adds new requirements for calculating membership dues and introduces a temporary cap on dues rates for the 2026-2027 billing year, while maintaining the existing framework for groundwater replenishment district funding.

REQUIREMENT

Added subsection G requiring makeup charges when service area dues volumes increase, including interest and a ten percent penalty on the difference.

Reformatted and clarified subsection D's calculation methodology for allocating dues between member lands and service areas with clearer numbering.

FISCAL

Added subsection I creating a special state fund for annual membership dues and subsection J allowing amounts to be held in trust for bond purposes.

TIMELINE

Added Section 2 prohibiting dues rate increases for the 2026-2027 billing year, limiting rates to the previous year's per-lot charges.

DEFINITION

Added subsection H clarifying that municipal providers with member service areas are obligated to pay dues collected under the statute.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 30, 2025 · House Mar 10, 2025

How they voted

27–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 30

Apr 30, 2025

D Democratic13

11 Yea 2

84% Yea

R Republican17

16 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 7, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by Governor

executive

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors