The proposed bill seeks to amend current statutes related to irrigation rights in Active Management Areas (AMAs) by introducing provisions that allow individuals to irrigate previously non-irrigated land adjacent to existing irrigated parcels, contingent upon the Director of ADWR's determination of Irrigation Grandfathered Rights (IGFRs). Specifically, the bill states that 1. Allows a person in a subsequent AMA, on the Director of ADWR's determination of IGFRs, to irrigate land that was not previously subject to irrigation if: the irrigation does not exceed the volume of groundwater awarded by an IGFR. This change aims to provide greater flexibility for landowners while maintaining the existing restrictions outlined in 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. to ensure consistency with existing statutes and introduces clarifications regarding the rights of state universities and correctional facilities to irrigate land under specific conditions. The bill also modifies terminology and updates the approval process for irrigation rights, while retroactively applying to actions taken after August 29, 2022. Overall, these updates aim to modernize and clarify the legal framework governing groundwater rights and irrigation practices in Arizona.

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