The proposed bill would update current statutes concerning the issuance of certificates of assured water supply by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) specifically for land in the Phoenix Active Management Area. It introduces
new criteria for application reviews, including submission dates and municipal provider notifications, and establishes that certificates issued under these new provisions would retroactively apply as if issued in 2023 for assured water supply designation applications. Additionally, it requires municipal providers to perform annual calculations of excess groundwater and offer long-term storage credits to the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD), while ensuring that these transactions do not affect annual replenishment assessments.
Furthermore, the bill extends the repeal date for modified certificate application requirements from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2029, and introduces a process for applicants who submitted applications between January 26, 2021, and August 31, 2023. It mandates that the department confirm the physical availability of groundwater if supported by specific models and requires notification to eligible applicants within ten days of the bill's effective date. The bill also allows for reviews of pending or withdrawn applications and sets a repeal date of December 31, 2028, for this section.Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-321, 11-831, 32-2181, 33-422, 32-2101, 32-2183, 32-2185.09, 28-8461, 28-8486, 33-1202, 41-1801, 41-4273, 45-402, 48-3772, 48-3774.01, 45-576, 44-1844, 44-1845, 44-1846, 11-823, 9-463.01, 45-108, 45-108.02, 45-108.03, 33-406
House Engrossed Version: 11-321, 11-831, 32-2181, 33-422, 32-2101, 32-2183, 32-2185.09, 28-8461, 28-8486, 33-1202, 41-1801, 41-4273, 45-402, 48-3772, 48-3774.01, 45-576, 44-1844, 44-1845, 44-1846, 11-823, 9-463.01, 45-108, 45-108.02, 45-108.03, 33-406