State Representative Gail Griffin has advanced an amendment to House Bill 2572, which was approved by the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The amendment proposes exemptions for small farmers and changes to the oversight structure of groundwater resources, according to the Arizona House of Representatives.
Representative Griffin's amendment allows small family farms that purchased land before the creation of a Subsequent Active Management Area to expand, with a 320-acre exemption limit. The amendment also proposes changes to the Groundwater Users Advisory Council by giving local county boards of supervisors the power to appoint members, instead of the Governor making the appointments. This aims to ensure local involvement in groundwater management decisions. As Griffin stated, "We must preserve the American Dream in rural Arizona and allow our small farms to thrive," as reported by the Arizona House of Representatives.
Gail Griffin’s amendment to House Bill 2572 gives the Groundwater User Advisory Council the authority to set local groundwater management goals and plans, instead of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Griffin stated, "Local communities have consistently asked for a stronger voice in groundwater decisions," with the aim of giving local stakeholders more control. The amendment passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee along party lines, with unanimous Republican support and Democratic opposition, as stated by the Arizona House of Representatives.
