The proposed bill would update current statutes regarding irrigation rights in Active Management Areas (AMAs) by allowing individuals to irrigate previously non-irrigated land under specific conditions. This includes provisions that permit irrigation if the land is adjacent to a previously irrigated farm unit and does not exceed the groundwater volume awarded by an Irrigation Grandfathered Right (IGFR). The current law, which restricts irrigation to land that has been legally irrigated within a specified timeframe, remains unchanged, as indicated by only acres of land that were legally irrigated at any time during the five years preceding the date of the notice of the initiation of designation procedures or the call for the election.... Additionally, the bill includes 2. Makes technical and conforming changes. and 3. Becomes effective on the general effective date. It also introduces new subsections that clarify the rights of state universities and correctional facilities to irrigate land under certain conditions, updates terminology, and removes outdated provisions. The act is designed to ensure that the new irrigation provisions are smoothly integrated into existing laws and is set to apply retroactively from August 29, 2022, making the changes effective immediately upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-452, 45-470, 45-472, 45-473, 45-512, 45-172, 45-465.01, 45-465.02, 45-463, 45-469, 45-437, 45-114, 45-461, 45-465, 45-473.01, 45-483
House Engrossed Version: 45-452, 45-470, 45-472, 45-473, 45-512, 45-172, 45-465.01, 45-465.02, 45-463, 45-469, 45-437, 45-114, 45-461, 45-465, 45-473.01, 45-483