If this bill were to become law, it would amend the current statutes regarding the application process for claiming grandfathered water rights in the Willcox Active Management Area (AMA). Specifically, it would extend the deadline for individuals to apply for a certificate of grandfathered right from the current requirement of no later than 15 months after the designation of the AMA to a new deadline of 21 months. This change is marked by the insertion of new language that states, "a person claiming the right to withdraw or receive and use groundwater in the Willcox active management area pursuant to a grandfathered right shall file an application... not later than twenty-one months after the date of the designation of the active management area."

Additionally, the bill would repeal the existing requirement for individuals to apply for a certificate of grandfathered right by January 1, 2027, as indicated by the deletion of that specific language. The act would also be retroactive to January 8, 2025, and is classified as an emergency measure, allowing it to take effect immediately upon passage. The overall intent of these updates is to provide more time for individuals to secure their water rights in the Willcox AMA.