If the Arizona Legislature doesn't act on water, Gov. Katie Hobbs says she will

Some of the strongest words in Gov. Katie Hobbs’ conciliatory State of the State speech came on water:

“And to those who have spent years refusing to act: If you don’t, I will.”

What does that mean, exactly?

What does 'refusing to act' look like?

Hobbs used a decent chunk of her speech to press for changes in how Arizona uses groundwater.

She said, for example, that it was time to “empower rural Arizonans to have a say in how their water is used.”

And to “close the loopholes that allow build-to-rent and wildcat developments.”

Absolutely.

But how?

In her speech, Hobbs touted the recommendations her Water Policy Council made late last year to address these issues.

But she didn’t specify that lawmakers should pass them as written.

And while observers expect Sen. Sonny Borrelli or Rep. Leo Biasiucci to introduce something soon based on the council’s recommendations for rural regulation, it’s unclear exactly how they will flesh out the particulars.

Expect bills on rural water, wildcat lots

The plot thickens, considering that Sen. Sine Kerr — who quit the governor’s council this fall in disgust — is proposing somewhat of a competing proposal to create a new form of temporary regulation in rural areas.

Her legislation also hasn’t been introduced, though it is expected soon.

Kerr may be one of the lawmakers to whom Hobbs was referring in her speech, because as the Senate’s natural resources committee chairwoman, she is considered one of two gatekeepers for water legislation.

What worries me most about water? Partisanship

The other is Rep. Gail Griffin, who chairs a similar committee in the House and has been criticized over the years for holding up debate on ideas with which she disagrees.

Griffin has introduced several bills addressing build-to-rent and “wildcat” subdivisions this session. Some of the provisions are similar to what Hobbs’ committee recommended, but not all of them mirror what was discussed.

Did Hobbs paint herself into a corner?

That could paint Hobbs into an uncomfortable corner, particularly if Kerr’s and Griffin’s proposals pass without amendments.

It’s pretty much a given that Hobbs will veto bills with anything she considers a poison pill. But what if the bills simply don’t do as much as Hobbs might like on these key issues?

Would the governor ixnay incremental work to get more of what she wants — presuming, of course, that lawmakers would be willing to introduce friendlier legislation the following session?

And if not, what else can (or will) Hobbs do?

She touted in her speech the rulemaking process the state water department is undertaking, which would create an alternate path for water providers to earn Assured Water Supply designations.

Proponents say that could help get growth moving again in areas like Buckeye and Queen Creek that lack designations, though there also are plenty of skeptics who say its impact could be limited.

As for rural Arizona? Hobbs didn’t say.

Some have speculated for months that she will direct the state water department director to designate more rural groundwater basins as Active Management Areas — an existing form of regulation that some rural Arizonans believe is too stringent.

Hobbs certainly upped their speculation with her parting line:

“If you don’t, I will.”

Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On X, formerly Twitter: @joannaallhands.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gov. Katie Hobbs says if lawmakers don't act on water, she will