PHOENIX – Governor Katie Hobbs joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers, county officials, and industry leaders to introduce the Rural Groundwater Management Act, a legislative proposal aimed at strengthening water protections for Arizona’s rural communities.
The act establishes Rural Groundwater Management Areas (RGMAs), providing a flexible, locally driven alternative to existing Active Management Areas (AMAs) and Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs).
“Rural Arizonans are fed up with seeing their wells go dry and their futures drained by outside entities exploiting their groundwater,” said Governor Hobbs. “This bill ensures local voices are heard and provides common-sense solutions to protect the rural way of life for generations to come.”
The proposal was developed through the Governor’s Water Policy Council and is sponsored by Senator Priya Sundareshan and Representative Chris Mathis. The legislation follows extensive stakeholder discussions with community leaders, agricultural representatives, and bipartisan legislators.
Key Elements of the Rural Groundwater Management Act
- Local choice, local solutions – Rural communities will have the authority to manage their water resources through a locally appointed RGMA Council.
- Flexible conservation programs – Water users will have options to reduce groundwater use while maintaining economic stability.
- Water protection and certainty – The act prevents large, external entities from over-extracting groundwater while providing existing users with water-use certificates for long-term planning.
- Customizable management plans – Conservation targets can be reassessed every 10 years to adapt to changing water needs.
- Dedicated funding for conservation – A legislative appropriation will seed a fund supporting voluntary conservation, aquifer recharge, and water reuse initiatives.
- Immediate protections for critical areas – Groundwater protections will be applied to the Gila Bend Basin, Hualapai Valley Basin, Ranegras Plain Basin, and San Simon Sub-basin, while the Willcox AMA will transition to an RGMA.
A Bipartisan Effort
State and local officials stressed the need for collaboration to address Arizona’s growing water crisis. Prescott Mayor Phil Goode emphasized that water is a nonpartisan issue, saying, “Last time I checked, there’s no Democratic water or Republican water—there’s just water for our state.”
Mohave County Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter pointed to the historical precedent of bipartisan cooperation on water issues, referencing Arizona’s landmark 1980 Groundwater Management Act. “It is vital that we now address the 80% of our state still classified as rural and left vulnerable,” he said.
Willcox Mayor Greg Hancock underscored the urgency of the crisis in his community, where declining aquifer levels have led to dry wells and land subsidence. “Water is not a partisan issue—it’s a community issue,” he said. “I urge all legislators to work together to find a solution.”
During the announcement, Governor Hobbs was joined by city and county leaders from across Arizona, including officials from Coconino, Yavapai, La Paz, and Santa Cruz counties. The proposed legislation is expected to be a focal point of the upcoming legislative session.