While running for attorney general, Democrat Chris Mays vowed to cancel state land leases that provide free groundwater to Saudi alfalfa growers. I say it’s difficult.

September 19th, Mayes told 12News that he plans to take immediate action on the Saudi water deal. We use land in La Paz County to grow alfalfa and ship it to the Middle East.

But on Tuesday, Hobbes said nothing was ready.

“This is a very complex issue and frankly, it’s not something AG has the authority to do on its own,” Hobbs told reporters. “It’s a complicated lease that can’t be ended easily.”

Mays believes Saudis’ use of Arizona’s farmland and water is illegal.

But Hobbes told reporters that simply breaking the lease could put the country at risk of violating its contract with Saudi Arabia. It needs to be done in a comprehensive manner that does not expose you to the risk of violating legal contracts,” Hobbes added.

Hobbs said it’s also unclear how much groundwater would be saved if the lease were broken.

“In addition to the leases they actually own, they also have a huge amount of land, so just ending that lease won’t reduce water usage that much,” she said. .