The proposed bill would update current Arizona groundwater statutes by extending the time frame for determining groundwater withdrawal rights from five years to ten years prior to the designation of a subsequent active management area (AMA). This change would allow irrigation users to irrigate land that was legally irrigated at any time during the ten years preceding the notice of initiation of designation procedures, rather than the current five-year requirement. Additionally, it would modify the calculation method for the maximum amount of groundwater that can be used for irrigation, ensuring that the highest number of acres legally irrigated during the ten years prior to designation is considered. The bill also grants rights to landowners who retired land from irrigation, allowing them to withdraw groundwater based on the average annual amount used during the ten years preceding retirement.

Moreover, the bill includes several technical corrections, such as changing "geographical" to "geographic" in definitions related to groundwater management. It introduces provisions allowing correctional facilities to irrigate land for inmate consumption without needing an irrigation grandfathered right and specifies the calculation of water usage for these facilities. The updates would apply retroactively to actions taken after August 29, 2022, ensuring that the new definitions and regulations are relevant to past and ongoing groundwater management practices. Overall, these changes aim to enhance clarity, flexibility, and rights for landowners in Arizona's groundwater management framework.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-402, 45-416, 45-452, 45-463, 45-464, 45-476, 3-1201, 45-414, 45-415, 45-454, 45-411, 45-411.02, 45-411.03, 45-437, 45-465, 45-564, 45-568, 45-483, 45-469, 45-472, 45-494.01, 45-591.01, 45-172, 45-465.01, 45-465.02, 45-114, 45-576
House Engrossed Version: 45-402, 45-416, 45-452, 45-463, 45-464, 45-476, 3-1201, 45-414, 45-415, 45-454, 45-411, 45-411.02, 45-411.03, 45-437, 45-465, 45-564, 45-568, 45-483, 45-469, 45-472, 45-494.01, 45-591.01, 45-172, 45-465.01, 45-465.02, 45-114, 45-576
Senate Engrossed Version: 45-402, 45-416, 45-452, 45-463, 45-464, 45-465, 45-476, 3-1201, 45-414, 45-415, 45-454, 45-411, 45-411.02, 45-411.03, 45-437, 45-564, 45-568, 45-483, 45-469, 45-472, 45-494.01, 45-591.01, 45-172, 45-465.01, 45-465.02, 45-114, 45-576, 45-467, 45-566.02, 45-567.02, 45-568.02