By Bob Christie | Capitol Media Services
Key Points:
- Water proposal lets builders buy water from retiring farmers
- Plan could allow 1 million new homes statewide
- Rural areas feel left out, fear water shortages
Housing developers left stranded and stalled by a lack of an assured water supply are getting a lifeline under a deal cut between Republicans and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
The proposal, known as “Ag-to-Urban,” allows homebuilders to buy water rights from farmers who retire their agricultural land if they promise to use only a certain percentage of the water to supply new developments.
The agreement was confirmed on June 18 by Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, who said GOP lawmakers and Hobbs “think it’s the most consequential water bill that’s been passed and will get signed since the 1980 Groundwater Act.”
