The bill HB2123 proposes to amend existing Arizona water law by prohibiting the state or any political subdivision from requiring a water measuring device for wells located in specific groundwater basins or subbasins. The new provisions specify that this prohibition applies if the groundwater basin or subbasin contains a river system subject to a general adjudication of water rights that are not fully adjudicated, is outside of an initial active management area (AMA), and is also outside of areas where groundwater may be withdrawn and transported.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that this prohibition does not affect the terms of valid contracts or settlement agreements, nor does it limit the authority of courts or special masters in general stream adjudications. The current law already includes exemptions for certain low-volume groundwater withdrawals, but the new bill expands these exemptions significantly by removing the requirement for measuring devices in the specified basins or subbasins, which could impact groundwater management practices in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-604
House Engrossed Version: 45-604