HB2965

THE CONTEXT: The Arizona Constitution prohibits substantive law from being included in the general appropriations, capital outlay appropriations and supplemental appropriations bills. However, it is often necessary to make statutory and session law changes to effectuate the budget.

WHAT THE BILL DID: Makes statutory and session law changes relating to the environment necessary to implement the FY 2026 state budget.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to put public resources toward the named state purpose through an accountable appropriation. It would continues to authorize the Arizona Water Protection Fund Commission to grant up to $336,000 of unobligated monies in the Arizona Water Protection Fund in FY 2026 to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to pay for AWDR s FY 2026 administrative costs, and would also continues to authorize the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to use up to $6,531,000 from the Underground Storage Tank Revolving Fund in FY 2026 for administrative costs and remediating sewage discharge issues in Naco, Arizona and other border areas of Arizona, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.