Arizona’s rural groundwater deal stalls as legislative session nears end
May 28, 2025
Attempts to regulate groundwater in rural Arizona have stalled in the Legislature. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office says negotiators haven’t met since early April. Hobbs backed a proposal to create rural groundwater management areas around the state. Republicans introduced their own proposal. The two sides differ on which water basins could be regulated, conservation limits and the makeup of the local councils that would oversee it all. Hobbs says she’ll take matters into her own hands if the Legislature doesn’t act before it adjourns. Republicans say a separate proposal from the Arizona Department of Water Resources to ease overpumping of a southern Arizona basin is souring talks on the legislative bills.
