The proposed bill would update current groundwater management statutes by introducing a new program that allows landowners within the Phoenix or Pinal active management areas (AMAs) to permanently relinquish their irrigation grandfathered rights (IGFR) in exchange for groundwater savings credits. This allows a person that owns land within the Phoenix or Pinal AMAs that may be legally irrigated with groundwater pursuant to an IGFR to apply to the Director of ADWR to permanently relinquish all of the IGFR in exchange for groundwater savings credits. Additionally, the bill would replace outdated language regarding credits, changing physical availability exemption credit; groundwater to groundwater savings credit; ADWR, and establish specific conditions for the approval of applications, including compliance with management plans and historical irrigation practices. Moreover, the bill introduces several new requirements, such as adding conditions for a volume of groundwater associated with a groundwater savings credit to be exempt from demonstrating physical availability and mandating the Director of ADWR to identify the amount of groundwater savings credits when issuing them. It also prohibits municipalities from enforcing certain regulations in subdivisions where groundwater savings credits have been pledged and requires the Director to restore relinquished credits if they have not been pledged. Overall, these updates aim to enhance water conservation efforts, improve groundwater management, and provide clarity for municipalities and landowners involved in the process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-465.05, 45-576, 45-576.08, 45-576.01, 41-1075, 45-114, 45-411.01, 45-561, 45-597, 45-598, 32-2101, 32-2181, 48-3772, 48-3774.01, 45-514, 45-515, 49-201, 45-497, 45-579, 45-576.02, 9-463.01, 11-823, 11-822
Senate Engrossed Version: 9-463.01, 9-500.53, 45-465.05, 45-463.03, 45-576, 45-576.08, 48-3772, 32-2101, 45-402, 45-108, 45-561, 45-108.02, 45-108.03, 9-463, 45-132, 45-632, 45-467, 45-802.01, 33-1802, 45-114, 45-597, 45-598, 45-563.03, 32-2181, 48-3774.01, 45-514, 45-515, 49-201, 45-497, 45-579, 45-576.02, 11-823, 11-822, 45-851.01
Chaptered Version: 9-463.01, 9-500.53, 45-465.05, 45-563.03, 45-576, 45-576.08, 48-3772, 32-2101, 45-402, 45-108, 45-561, 45-108.02, 45-108.03, 9-463, 45-132, 45-632, 45-467, 45-802.01, 33-1802, 45-114, 45-597, 45-598, 32-2181, 48-3774.01, 45-514, 45-515, 49-201, 45-497, 45-579, 45-576.02, 11-823, 11-822, 45-851.01