The proposed bill, HB2028, amends Arizona's groundwater management laws by requiring the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to assume that any unpledged long-term storage credits will be available when evaluating applications for assured water supply. This change aims to enhance the accuracy of groundwater modeling used in the assessment process for developers seeking certification or designation of assured water supply.

Under current law, there is no explicit requirement for the ADWR to consider unpledged long-term storage credits in their modeling. The new bill language mandates that the Director of ADWR ensure that any hydraulic modeling used to determine projected groundwater levels incorporates these credits, thereby potentially increasing the availability of water resources for new developments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-581