PHOENIX — State leaders describe a bill that Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law in late June as one of the most significant pieces of legislation in Arizona’s history.
“The Ag-to-Urban Groundwater Conservation program, codified into law with the signing of Senate Bill 1611, is a win for Arizona families, for farmers and for our aquifers,” Hobbs said during a Tuesday event.
The bill she signed, also known as the “Ag-to-Urban” Bill, will enable farmers to sell their groundwater rights to housing developers.
Gov. Katie Hobbs believes Ag-to-Urban law will help Arizona
This new law enables developers to bypass another historic piece of Arizona water legislation, the 1980 Groundwater Management Act, which required some builders to prove they had access to 100 years’ worth of water before they could begin construction.
The program aims to help retiring farmers profit from their land, increase Arizona’s housing supply and conserve water by converting agricultural land that consumes large amounts of water to residential communities that use significantly less of it.
Hobbs stated the bill will also assist during Colorado River water negotiations when determining how water cuts will be distributed.
“The work we’re doing to conserve water in our state puts us in a stronger position,” Hobbs said.
“It shows that we will continue to be good stewards of our water, and that we are taking real measures to conserve and be a good partner with all of the basin states.”
State Senator TJ Shope, the sponsor of the bipartisan bill, also spoke at the Tuesday event.
“If you want to leave a lasting legacy … by offering what we hope is affordable housing for the next generation of Arizonans, we want to provide a roadmap for you to do so,” Shope said.
According to Hobbs, the program expects to save 10-million-acre feet of water over the next century.
The Ag-to-Urban Program will take effect on September 26, 2025.