If enacted, this bill would amend the Arizona Revised Statutes by reclassifying the use of groundwater for growing wine grapes and hydroponically grown plants as a non-irrigation use within an active management area (AMA). This change would allow for the watering of these plants using groundwater withdrawn under an irrigation grandfathered right in an initial AMA. Additionally, the bill would make technical and conforming changes to existing statutes.

The bill also proposes to separate certificates of irrigation grandfathered rights into two distinct certificates upon request, one for plants in containers and another for traditional irrigation uses. However, it stipulates that such separation cannot occur if it would result in a certificate with fewer than two certificated acres. Overall, these updates aim to clarify and modernize the regulations surrounding groundwater use in Arizona, particularly in relation to specific agricultural practices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-465.04