This bill proposes significant updates to the Arizona groundwater code by amending existing statutes and adding new provisions. It clarifies the exemptions for groundwater withdrawals from wells with a maximum capacity of thirty-five gallons per minute, specifically addressing wells drilled before and after April 28, 1983. The bill introduces new language that establishes correlative rights in groundwater basins or subbasins, detailing the conditions under which these rights can be established, including requirements for landowner support and the director's authority to create personal groundwater accounts for landowners.

Additionally, the bill outlines the processes for managing and allocating groundwater rights, including the establishment of personal groundwater accounts, the conditions for groundwater withdrawal, and the rights associated with these accounts. It mandates regular hydrological reviews every ten years to reassess groundwater availability and recharge rates, ensuring that the management of groundwater resources remains sustainable. The bill also includes provisions for a statewide ballot question regarding the establishment of correlative rights in all eligible basins and subbasins, allowing voters to have a say in this significant change to groundwater management.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-465.05, 45-576, 45-465, 45-114, 45-561