A state judge ruled this week that the Arizona Department of Water Resources illegally changed how it evaluates whether there’s enough groundwater to build new homes in parts of the Valley. The decision is a win for the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, which had sued. State law requires builders in certain parts of the state — including the Phoenix area — to prove there’s an assured hundred-year water supply for houses being built there. But shortly after Gov. Katie Hobbs took office, she released a report showing the Phoenix Active Management Area was short of that. … Kathleen Ferris, senior research fellow at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy, joined The Show to talk about the ruling and its potential impacts.

Related articles:

• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Judge deals major blow to Gov. Katie Hobbs’ groundwater agenda​
• Arizona Capitol Times (Phoenix): Judge rules against ADWR’s water-based restrictions of Phoenix housing developments​
• State Affairs: Superior Court says no more to Phoenix area’s water-based home restrictions