If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes by adding a new section to Title 45, Chapter 2, Article 9 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The new provisions would require the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to adopt rules for updating groundwater modeling specifically for active management areas (AMAs). These updates would need to account for any natural, incidental, or artificial stormwater recharge resulting from the development of new or existing infrastructure.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Director assume that the stormwater recharge from such developments will offset a portion of future groundwater use. Furthermore, the Director would be required to annually update the groundwater model to reflect these changes in stormwater recharge. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the management of groundwater resources in Arizona by integrating stormwater recharge considerations into the existing framework.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-581
House Engrossed Version: 45-581