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HB2078 • 2026

reclamation plans; aggregate mining; notice

HB2078 - reclamation plans; aggregate mining; notice

Energy
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Selina Bliss
Last action
2026-03-24
Official status
Senate minority caucus
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide detailed implementation and enforcement details.

Reclamation Plans for Aggregate Mining; Notice

HB2078 modifies the requirements for notices related to new aggregate mining operations in Arizona.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes when and how owners or operators of aggregate mining facilities must give notice about proposed reclamation plans, applying only to new proposed reclamation plans submitted on or after September 15, 2024.
  • Allows the notice requirement to be met by providing prior public notices related to special use permitting, rezoning, annexation applications, or other public notices within a one-half mile radius of the mining operation.
  • Makes technical changes to existing laws about reclamation plans for aggregate mining operations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Owners and operators of aggregate mining facilities in Arizona.

Terms To Know

Aggregate Mining Unit
An individual portion of an aggregate mining facility that includes one or more surface disturbances.
Reclamation Plan
A plan for measures to achieve stability and safety after aggregate mining, as specified in the reclamation plan.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify any fiscal impact on the state General Fund.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing notices or plans submitted before September 15, 2024.
  • The exact implementation and enforcement details are not provided in the summary.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  2. 2026-03-24 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  3. 2026-03-23 Senate

    Senate consent calendar

  4. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Senate second read

  5. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  6. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Senate Natural Resources: DP

  7. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Senate first read

  8. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  9. 2026-02-23 House

    House third read passed

  10. 2026-02-17 House

    House minority caucus

  11. 2026-02-17 House

    House majority caucus

  12. 2026-02-16 House

    House consent calendar

  13. 2026-01-13 House

    House second read

  14. 2026-01-12 House

    House Rules: C&P

  15. 2026-01-12 House

    House Natural Resources, Energy & Water: DP

  16. 2026-01-12 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2078 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2078

reclamation plans;
aggregate mining; notice

Purpose

Specifies,
retroactive to September 16, 2024, that the statutorily prescribed notice of
proposed aggregate mining unit requirement applies only to new proposed
reclamation plans for aggregate mining operations that are submitted on or
after September 16, 2024, and may be satisfied by providing outlined public
notice.

Background

An owner or
operator of an aggregate mining facility may submit a single reclamation plan
that covers multiple aggregate mining units of an aggregate mining facility.
The proposed reclamation plan must include: 1) the names and addresses of the
owner or operator and an individual who will be the regulatory contact; 2) a
statement that the owner or operator assumes responsibility for the reclamation
of surface disturbances that are attributable to the aggregate mining unit; 3)
a description of the aggregate mining unit and the proposed surface
disturbances that will be created; 4) the distance in feet and the direction
from the closest existing occupied residential structures and aggregate mining
facility; 5) a statement that the owner or operator has provided a notice of
the proposed aggregate mining unit to each residential property owner whose
property is located within a one-half mile radius of the aggregate mining
operation as shown on the current property tax roll; and 6) other statutorily
prescribed disclosures. The notice of the proposed aggregate mining unit must
include the name and contact information of the owner's designated
representative who will respond to questions regarding the proposed aggregate
mining unit (
A.R.S.
� 27-1271
).

An
aggregate
mining unit
is an individual portion of an aggregate mining facility that
encompasses one or more surface disturbances.
Reclamation
means measures
that are taken on surface disturbances at exploration operations and aggregate
mining units to achieve stability and safety consistent with post aggregate
mining land use objectives specified in the reclamation plan (
A.R.S.
� 27-1201
).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state
General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.

Specifies
that the statutorily prescribed notice of proposed aggregate mining unit
requirement:

a)

applies only to new proposed reclamation plans for new aggregate
operations that are submitted to the State Mine Inspector on or after September
16, 2024; and

b)

may be satisfied by providing prior public notices relating to special
use permitting, rezoning or annexation application or by providing other public
notices associated with the proposed aggregate mining unit if the public
notices were published, distributed or displayed within at least one-half mile
radius of the aggregate mining operation.

2.

Makes technical changes.

3.

Becomes effective on the general effective date, retroactive to
September 16, 2024.

House Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

March 12, 2026

SB/hk

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB2078 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

reclamation plans;
aggregate mining; notice

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2078

AN
ACT

Amending section 27-1271, Arizona
Revised Statutes; RELATING to mining.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 27-1271, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
27-1271.

Submission and
contents of reclamation plan

A.
Beginning January 1, 2006,

An owner or operator may submit a single reclamation plan that covers multiple
aggregate mining units of an aggregate mining facility.

B. The proposed reclamation plan shall include:

1. The names and addresses of the owner or operator
and an individual who will be the regulatory contact.

2. A statement that the owner or operator assumes
responsibility for the reclamation of surface disturbances that are
attributable to the aggregate mining unit consistent with this chapter and the
rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.

3. The current ownership and use of the land
included in the aggregate mining unit.

4. The proposed postaggregate mining use of the
land.

5. A description of the aggregate mining unit and
the proposed surface disturbances that will be created.

6. The existing and proposed final topography,
including the final slopes or configuration of overburden or waste rock
stockpiles and fine areas.

7. A narrative description of roads that are
proposed for the aggregate mining unit.

8. The acreage affected by each type of surface
disturbance and a map of the aggregate mining unit area showing each surface
disturbance.� For previously undisturbed areas, the map shall identify any
types of fish and wildlife habitats that will be disturbed.

9. The proposed reclamation measures that are
necessary to achieve the postaggregate mining land use, including information
concerning:

(a) The measures that will be taken to restrict
public access to pits and other surface features that may be a hazard to public
safety.

(b) The measures that will be taken to address
erosion control and stability.

(c) The measures that will be taken to address
revegetation, conservation and the care and monitoring of revegetated areas as
provided in this chapter.

(d) For surface disturbances for which the proposed
postaggregate mining land use objective is designated as grazing, fish or
wildlife habitat, forestry or recreation, the type of wildlife or fish habitat
to be encouraged, including measures that will be taken to encourage that type
of wildlife or fish habitat, and that those measures will not be incompatible
with the fish or wildlife habitat on adjacent lands.

10. A proposed tentative schedule for beginning
surface disturbances and beginning and completing the reclamation measures.

11. The estimated costs to perform each of the
proposed reclamation measures for the purposes of determining financial
assurance requirements under article 5 of this chapter.

12. The distance in feet and the direction from the
closest existing occupied residential structures and aggregate mining
facility. For the purposes of this paragraph, the distance shall be
measured from the exterior of the occupied residential structure to the closest
crest of excavation and includes any intermediate rights-of-way
between the structure and proposed facility.

13. A statement that the owner or operator has
provided a notice of the proposed
reclamation plan
aggregate mining unit
to each residential property
owner
owners
whose
property
is
properties are
located within a one-half
mile radius of the aggregate mining operation as shown on the current property
tax roll. The notice shall include the name and contact information
of the
owner

owner's
or operator's
designated representative who will respond to questions regarding the proposed
reclamation plan
aggregate mining unit
.
the notice requirement prescribed by this paragraph:

(
a
) Applies
only to new proposed reclamation plans for new aggregate mining operations that
are submitted to the inspector from and after September 15, 2024.

(
b
) May
be satisfied by providing prior public notices relating to special use
permitting or rezoning or annexation applications or by providing other public
notices associated with the proposed aggregate mining unit if the public
notices were published or distributed or displayed within at least a one-half
mile radius of the aggregate mining operation.

END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.
Retroactivity

This act applies retroactively to from
and after September 15, 2024.