The proposed bill amends several sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes related to the groundwater code, specifically focusing on the designation of irrigation non-expansion areas. Key changes include the stipulation that a decision by the director regarding a petition for such designation is not subject to judicial review, and that the director is not required to hold a hearing on the sufficiency of the petition. Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for petitions, including the necessity of submitting a numeric groundwater flow model and a hydrologic report signed by a registered professional, which must be consulted with the department prior to submission.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the criteria for irrigation users eligible to sign petitions and modifies the process for verifying signatures and determining compliance with petition requirements. It also establishes that if the director's decision to decline designation is reversed on judicial review, previously irrigated acres may continue to be irrigated, and it sets a three-year waiting period before a subsequent petition can be filed for the same area. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the process for designating irrigation non-expansion areas while ensuring that groundwater management is based on credible scientific evidence.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-114, 45-432, 45-433, 45-434, 45-435, 45-436, 45-476.01, 41-1092.09, 41-1092.08, 45-404, 45-414, 45-571, 45-576.03, 45-412, 16-168, 19-111