Great day rallying for water at Environmental Day at the Capitol! Keep the momentum going by contacting Sen. T.J. Shope.

We had a great day at Environmental Day at the Capitol. While tabling for Sustainable Tucson, Sen. Priya Sundareshan from our district (LD18) stopped by to thank me for promoting the Rural Groundwater Protection bills, SB1425 and HB2714. These bipartisan bills finally offer much needed water protections for rural communities that are suffering from over-pumping. Over-pumping was emptying the aquifer causing sinkholes in the Willcox area. Sen. Priya Sundareshan and Rep. Chris Mathis (LD18) worked with several Republican politicians on the bill - including the Mayor of Willcox. 

Me and  Rep. Sarah Liguori

The other bill that we were excited to promote was the Rainwater Harvesting Appropriation bill, HB2644. It provides up to $2000 for hiring a licensed contractor to install a residential rainwater harvesting system (up to $2000 for rain tanks and $500 for catchment basins, no more than $2000 in total). We got involved with this bill when we were contacted by AZ ANNHPI for Equity for feedback, so it was great running into Rep. Sarah Liguori (LD5), who introduced HB2644. If you check out my Sustainable Living Tucson blog, you'll see how I love our rainwater harvesting cisterns and basins. Last year, my husband Dan Stormont did a rainwater harvesting presentation for Environmental Day, and people from around the state asked where they could get rainwater harvesting incentives. HB2644 would fit the bill! 

Jana Segal, Rep. Nancy Gutierrez, Adriana Bachmann 

Next we had meeting with Rep. Nancy Gutierrez, who warmly greeted us. I congratulated her for getting her School Lunch bill (HB2213) heard in committee. Then I encouraged her to support the two water bills. I am delighted that she is on the Appropriations Committee that will be hearing the Rainwater Harvesting Appropriation bill! 

I ran into Sen. Thomas "TJ" Shope, one of the legislators supporting HB2644, outside of the Senate building and thanked him. Inspired by his dedication to water, I rallied everyone I met to contact him and ask him to hear the Rural Groundwater bill in the Natural Resources committee that he chairs. Thanks to this kind woman who called the senator on the spot! 

Please, take a few minutes to contact Sen. Shope and urge him to hear SB1425 in his committee...

Sen. Thomas "T.J." Shope, district 16, TSHOPE@azleg.gov (602) 926-3012

And while you're at it, congratulate Rep. Nancy Gutierrez for getting HB2213 through the Education and Appropriations committees! 

Rep. Nancy Gutierrez -- Assistant Minority Leader, district 18 D, NGUTIERREZ@az.gov, (602) 926-4134

#lovemyrainbasin

MORE INFORMATION 

Environmental groups outline legislative priorities, target bills to support and oppose - by Joan Meiners, Arizona Republic

Thank Governor Hobbs and the Arizona Legislators Trying to Protect Rural Groundwater

 

Rep. Chris Mathis, Sen. Priya Sundareshan, Mohave County Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter, Gov. Katie Hobbs, Wilcox Mayor Greg Hancock, Prescott Mayor Phil Goode

Currently at the state legislature, there are many bills that weaken our already lax water laws - many sponsored by Rep. Gail Griffin who is also a realtor profiting from development. In previous years we fought her bills weakening the 100 year water supply which would have depleted the San Pedro (our last perennial flowing river in Southern AZ). Last year (and again this year) she fought to weaken Douglas and Willcox's new Active Management Area status. The overpumping in Willcox from too much development and industrial farming has emptied their aquifer, causing sink holes.

Sink hole in Willcox area

On the bright side, the Governor and some Democratic legislators are working to protect rural groundwater.

"At the end of January, my seatmate Rep. Chris Mathis and I joined Gov. Hobbs and many Republican elected officials from rural Arizona to call on the Legislature to pass rural groundwater protections, which we introduced as mirror bills SB1425 and HB2714. These are truly bipartisan measures -- and we hope this year we will finally protect rural groundwater."

"I've also introduced many other bills. There are only 2 weeks remaining to get committee hearings for any of them - let's see if the Republican committee chairs schedule any of mine."

— AZ Sen. Priya Sundareshan (@priya4az) January 30, 2025 Please, consider thanking our Rep. Chris Mathis, Sen. Priya Sundareshan and Gov. Hobbs for protecting rural groundwater. We are all connected - just like our water systems.

Sen. Priya Sundareshan (Minority Leader) district 18, Dem, PSUNDARESHAN@azleg.gov (602) 926-3437

Rep. Christopher Mathis district 18, Dem, CMATHIS@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3138

Gov. Katie Hobbs, https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/form/contact-governor-hobbs, (602) 542-4331.

You can also ask Rep. Gail Griffin to hear the bill in the Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee that she chairs. As mentioned above, she is working against sound water protections. But why make it easy for her?

Rep. Gail Griffin, District 19, Rep. Email: GGRIFFIN@azleg.gov (602) 926-5895

Maybe there's a better chance with Sen. Thomas "T.J." Shope who chairs the Natural Resources Committee:

Sen. Thomas "T.J." Shope, district 16, Rep. TSHOPE@azleg.gov (602) 926-3012

More information here:

https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/02/06/democrats-groundwater-proposal-still-awaits-committee-hearing/