HB 2185

Lawns; Drought

Overview

HB 2185 prohibits condominium and planned community associations from requiring overseeding or watering of lawns during a drought year, as defined by Arizona law. These prohibitions apply regardless of existing CC&Rs, rules, or landscaping standards.

Key Changes

  • Amends A.R.S. 33-1242 and adds A.R.S. 33-1821 to prohibit community associations from requiring overseeding or watering lawns during a drought year as defined in A.R.S. 48-4401.

Legislative Timeline

  • March 3, 2026 – Senate Second Reading
  • March 2, 2026 – Senate First Reading; Assigned to the Senate Government and Rules Committees
  • February 25, 2026 – Passed the House on a 52-2 vote (with 6 not voting)
  • February 25, 2026 – On the House Third Reading Calendar, 10:00 a.m.
  • February 24, 2026 – On the House COW Calendar, 1:15 p.m.; passed out of COW as amended
  • February 3, 2026 – On the agenda for the House Caucuses
  • February 2, 2026 – On the agenda for the House Committee of the Whole (COW) Consent Calendar, 2:00 p.m.; Objection
  • February 2, 2026 – On the agenda for the House Committee on Rules, 1:00 p.m.; Passed out of Committee with a “Constitutional and Proper” vote
  • January 27, 2026 – On the agenda for the House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy, and Water meeting, 2:00 p.m.; Amendment proposed to add language that a drought is determined by a “drought declaration or drought emergency declaration issued by the Governor invoking [A.R.S.] Section 26-309;” Passed out of the Committee with a “Do Pass as Amended” vote
  • January 15, 2026 – Withdrawn from House Commerce Committee; Assigned to House Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee
  • January 14, 2026 – House Second Reading
  • January 13, 2026 – Introduced; House First Reading; Assigned to House Commerce and Rules Committees

Impact

If passed, associations must suspend enforcement of any lawn watering or overseeding requirements during a declared drought year. The bill significantly limits association control over landscaping practices in favor of statewide water-conservation policy.

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