“Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney overturned state water department rules April 21 that gave legal backing for Gov. Katie Hobbs’ 2023 moratorium on new certificates of assured water supply, which are required for subdivisions in cities like Buckeye and Queen Creek.”
Making its case: “The Home Builders Association of Central Arizona… sued in 2025, saying the Department of Water Resources created new rules to enact the moratorium without going through the rulemaking process required by state law” — and “Blaney agreed.” -As reported in AZCentral.
In a comment to RLGR, Rose Law Group Water Law Department Chairman Riley Snow says: “This ruling is another example of the need in Arizona for properly promulgated water regulation. Developers aren’t opposed to updated groundwater regulations that will ensure a prosperous future. But such regulation needs to be done properly. The rule-making process allows stakeholders to participate. Hopefully, this ruling will encourage ADWR to use that process and avoid unilaterally imposing restrictions in the future.”
