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HCM 2003

stormwater; groundwater; recharge; urging support

57th Legislature - First Regular Session Introduced by Gail Griffin

Urges state agencies to accelerate managed stormwater recharge, develop identified state trust land sites, and incorporate new groundwater supply into basin planning.

Transmit to Secretary of State
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Bill Summary · HCM 2003

Summary — H.C.M. 2003 (2025)

Title: Stormwater; groundwater; recharge; urging support
Type: House Concurrent Memorial (non‑binding)
Introduced: Jan 21, 2025 (Rep. Griffin) — Filed with Secretary of State: Apr 16, 2025

Purpose / Intent

H.C.M. 2003 is a concurrent memorial urging Arizona state agencies to prioritize planning and development of groundwater recharge infrastructure, particularly in rural communities. It expresses the Legislature’s support for converting stormwater/runoff into managed recharge to increase local groundwater supplies and reduce evaporative losses.

Key findings cited

  • Cites a U.S. Geological Survey finding that over 95% of rainfall in Arizona evaporates from soil or plants before recharging aquifers.
  • Notes that from 2016–2021 state agencies identified more than 300 (specified in the memorial as 331) potential sites on state trust land suitable for recharge projects.
  • References a December 2023 Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) approval for a Mohave County Flood Control District groundwater recharge facility in Hualapai Valley.

Main provisions (what the memorial requests)

  • Urges the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the State Land Department to:
    • Focus on increasing groundwater recharge through planning and development of recharge infrastructure.
    • Support the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority and the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund.
    • Develop the 331 sites identified on state trust land for recharge projects.
  • Requests that when private and public parties implement recharge projects, ADWR and the State Land Department incorporate the increased groundwater supply from those projects into basin models and future basin‑health decisions.
  • Directs the Secretary of State to transmit the memorial to ADWR, the State Land Commissioner, every natural resource conservation district, county flood control district, county board of supervisors and each municipal separate storm sewer system in Arizona.

Who is affected / likely impacts

  • Primary audiences: ADWR, State Land Department, WIFA, rural counties, county flood control districts, municipal stormwater systems, natural resource conservation districts, water providers.
  • Potential impacts: increased planning and investment in stormwater recharge projects; more applications to WIFA and use of the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund; incorporation of managed recharge into basin planning and modeling; potential long‑term augmentation of local groundwater supplies in rural basins.
  • Important limitation: As a memorial (non‑binding), H.C.M. 2003 expresses the Legislature’s preference but does not appropriate funds or mandate agency action.

Procedural timeline

  • Introduced: Jan 21, 2025 (House first reading; committee of reference held hearings Jan 21 — DP)
  • Passed House: Feb 18, 2025
  • Passed Senate: Apr 15, 2025
  • Transmitted to Secretary of State / Filed: Apr 16, 2025

Overall, H.C.M. 2003 is intended to encourage state agencies and local governments to accelerate managed stormwater recharge efforts, emphasize development of previously identified sites on state trust land, and ensure recharge projects are reflected in water‑budgeting and basin health decisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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