Committee advances bill to raise WIFA loan cap to finance larger rural water projects

Senate Bill 15-60, which raises the per‑application loan cap in the water supply development revolving fund from $3 million to $20 million, was returned with a due‑pass recommendation after testimony from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA).

Judah Weisbaum, WIFA’s chief of government affairs, told the committee the $3 million statutory cap has constrained some larger rural recharge and infrastructure projects; the bill would let WIFA meet borrower demand for projects in the $20 million range while the fund maintains sound lending practices. WIFA said the fund currently has roughly $70–75 million available to award after prior commitments.

The committee voted to return the bill with a due‑pass recommendation (vote recorded: 8 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present, 1 absent).

What it means: Raising the cap allows WIFA to consider larger single loans for rural water-infrastructure projects (recharge, well rehabilitation and pipelines) without changing grant limits. Proponents said the change will make more candidates eligible and support larger regional projects.