This bill proposes significant updates to current Arizona groundwater management statutes by introducing new definitions and requirements specifically for rural groundwater management areas. It mandates that the board of supervisors cannot approve final plats for subdivisions in these areas without an adequate water supply, as determined by the director of water resources. The bill also clarifies the roles of rural groundwater management area councils and establishes a notification process for mandatory water adequacy requirements. Additionally, it enhances clarity in existing provisions regarding water supply disclosures and modifies outdated terms, ensuring that all subdivisions have a reliable water source to protect public health and safety.

Furthermore, the bill expands the regulatory framework by establishing five initial rural groundwater management areas and introducing new provisions for groundwater use certificates, including a public registry and criteria for issuing these certificates. It also creates a rural groundwater management area council to develop management plans and a fund to support conservation efforts. The bill ensures consistent management practices across active and rural groundwater management areas, updates penalties for violations, and mandates the approval of water measuring devices by the director. Overall, these updates aim to strengthen groundwater management and conservation efforts in both active and rural regions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-823, 32-2181, 32-2183, 32-2197.08, 33-406, 41-1005, 45-108, 45-108.01, 45-402, 45-453, 45-454, 45-596, 45-597, 45-598, 45-599, 45-601, 45-604, 45-632, 45-635, 45-812.01, 45-831.01, 45-832.01, 45-834.01, 45-841.01, 45-852.01, 45-855.01, 45-2602, 11-821, 32-2101, 45-561, 45-108.02, 45-108.03, 45-441.11, 28-8461, 28-8486, 33-1202, 41-1801, 41-4273, 48-3772, 48-3774.01, 45-576, 44-1844, 44-1845, 44-1846, 45-441.13, 9-463.01, 37-102, 28-8484, 32-2183.05, 32-2183.06, 32-2184, 32-2154, 32-2157, 33-1215, 33-1219, 32-2181.02, 32-2181.01, 44-1522, 32-2197.04, 32-2197.07, 32-2197.14, 33-411, 5-321, 5-322, 5-327, 17-332, 28-641, 6-125, 3-1086, 41-4010, 41-4042, 32-2067, 32-2132, 5-111, 41-511.05, 36-2205, 36-3409, 28-7048, 32-1527, 46-805, 23-908, 3-414, 26-303, 35-192, 28-7705, 36-2901.08, 3-605, 111-353, 3-109.03, 41-1012, 11-822, 45-114, 3-1201, 45-414, 45-415, 45-411, 45-411.02, 45-411.03, 45-437, 45-465, 45-564, 45-568, 45-483, 45-463, 45-464, 45-469, 45-472, 45-494.01, 45-591.01, 45-441.10, 45-441.06, 45-441.01, 45-404, 45-441.02, 45-802.01, 45-441.03, 45-441.04, 16-168, 19-111, 45-441.05, 45-441.08, 45-441.07, 45-441.09, 45-441.12, 45-441.14, 45-441.15, 35-190, 35-313, 45-593, 45-600, 45-594, 45-595, 32-1121, 49-201, 96-510, 49-286, 94-580, 99-499, 35-146, 35-147, 45-606, 45-515, 45-521, 45-563.02, 45-634, 45-875.01, 45-854.01, 45-871.01, 45-851.01, 45-591, 45-514, 48-3771, 45-859.01, 45-853.01, 45-2611, 45-412