By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed legislation that would have allowed residents in voter-established Active Management Areas (AMAs), including the newly created Douglas AMA, to revisit their groundwater management designation after ten years.
The bill, HB 2089, was sponsored by Representative Gail Griffin (R–LD19), who argued that the measure was about preserving local control and ensuring that rural communities retain a voice in long-term water policy decisions.
“This bill simply would have allowed voters to revisit a decision they made ten years earlier. It respected the voice of the people — not silenced it,” Griffin said in a statement responding to the veto. “The Governor’s action undermines the ability of rural communities to self-govern and respond to future conditions.”
Under current Arizona law, AMAs are designated areas where groundwater is heavily regulated in an effort to manage overdraft and promote sustainable use. The Douglas AMA was approved by voters in 2022 in response to growing concerns over aquifer depletion in southeastern Arizona. The law established that AMA did not include an option for voters to re-evaluate the decision in the future — a gap HB 2089 sought to address.
Rep. Griffin and other rural lawmakers have expressed concern over what they describe as heavy-handed regulation from Phoenix that may not reflect the economic realities of agricultural communities. In a press release, the Arizona House Republican Caucus also criticized the Governor’s broader approach to groundwater management, particularly in the Willcox Basin, where the administration is reportedly pursuing a 50% reduction in groundwater overdraft by 2075.
The veto is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing debate between state leadership and rural lawmakers over how best to balance groundwater conservation with agricultural and economic needs. It remains unclear whether supporters of the measure will seek to reintroduce similar legislation in future sessions.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
