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?

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........

© Arizona Republic