Rep. Gail Griffin

Maddy summaryHB 2088 amends Arizona's groundwater management laws to establish procedures for designating new "subsequent active management areas" (SAMAs) and removing them. It allows the director to create SAMAs where groundwater preservation, land subsidence, or water quality issues require action, and to remove SAMAs if these conditions no longer exist. The bill requires public hearings with 30-60 day notice, detailed map and boundary descriptions, and written findings within 30 days of hearings. These changes directly affect landowners and water users in areas meeting the specified groundwater criteria, with all decisions subject to public review and judicial oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 2270 requires Arizona's water director to update groundwater models for active management areas (AMAs) to include stormwater recharge from infrastructure development. It mandates that the director assume this recharge offsets future groundwater use and annually update models to reflect new stormwater recharge sources. The bill directly affects water managers and developers in Arizona's AMAs by changing how groundwater use is calculated. The bill passed the legislature but was vetoed by the governor on April 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2089 allows residents in Arizona groundwater basins designated as "subsequent active management areas" (SAMAs) to petition for removal of that designation after 10 years. It requires 10% of registered voters in the SAMA to file a petition within 180 days before a general election, triggering a review by the groundwater director on whether the designation remains necessary. If the director determines removal is appropriate, a vote is held; otherwise, the designation stays. The bill directly affects residents in SAMAs and was passed by the legislature in April 2025 but vetoed by the governor on April 15.

Maddy summaryHB 2202 amends Arizona law to establish rules for transferring irrigation rights between land parcels in active management areas. It allows landowners to permanently retire irrigated land and replace it with substitute acres that were legally irrigated between 1958-1968 (or a designated period), provided the land meets specific location and efficiency criteria within the same irrigation district. The bill transfers irrigation rights from retired land to substitute land, requires director approval, and limits groundwater use on retired land. The bill was passed by the legislature in April 2025 but was vetoed by the governor on April 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2086, vetoed by the Governor on April 15, 2025, proposed a county-administered program providing grants to low-income or fixed-income homeowners for specific water improvements. The bill would have allowed grants to deepen existing drinking water wells, install storage tanks for water hauling, or upgrade plumbing for water delivery systems at a residence. County boards would designate an operating entity (like a nonprofit or county department) to set eligibility criteria and manage funds, but prohibited using general county funds for the program. The bill required annual reports on program operations but never took effect due to the gubernatorial veto.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by Arizona lawmakers expressing support for the Palo Verde Generating Station nuclear power plant and nuclear energy. It highlights Palo Verde's role as Arizona's largest clean energy source, economic contributor ($2.3 billion impact), and employer (3,000+ jobs), while noting public support for nuclear power. The resolution has no legal effect but formally endorses continued nuclear energy use and directs the Secretary of State to send copies to federal officials. It does not create new policies, funding, or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 2103 appropriates $1 million from Arizona's general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to the Department of Water Resources. The funds are specifically designated to defend, protect, and enforce Arizona's water allocation under the 1922 Colorado River Compact. This bill directly affects Arizona's state water management efforts by providing dedicated funding for legal and administrative actions related to Colorado River water rights. The measure focuses on safeguarding the state's existing water entitlements rather than altering water distribution policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2087 appropriates $________ from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to clean and restore specific artificial groundwater recharge facilities. It directly affects the state department responsible for water management and communities relying on these facilities in designated groundwater basins that also provide flood control benefits. The bill requires funding only for facilities meeting two criteria: being in a state-designated groundwater management area and offering flood control. The appropriation is exempt from standard rules requiring annual reauthorization. This bill focuses solely on funding mechanisms, not policy changes to water management.

Maddy summaryHB 2855 declares that drug cartels operating in Arizona are terrorist organizations under state law. It defines "drug cartel" to include groups involved in human smuggling, drug trafficking, or terrorism, and requires the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to address the threat they pose. The bill explicitly states this definition does not affect individuals' claims for asylum under federal law. This legislation aims to empower state agencies to combat border-related criminal activity, based on voter-approved findings about public safety concerns linked to transnational cartels.

Maddy summaryHB 2105 corrects the language in Arizona law about storing petroleum products to clarify that containers or tanks previously holding different petroleum products must be emptied and relabeled before reuse. This affects businesses storing or selling fuel, such as gas stations and distributors, ensuring they properly identify product types to prevent contamination. The bill updates Section 44-1244 of Arizona Revised Statutes without changing the core requirement, only making the rule clearer. It is a technical correction, not a new policy.