This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding groundwater management in Arizona, specifically targeting the authority of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Director. Under current law, the director has the ability to revise rules that apply to active management areas (AMAs). The bill would insert a provision that explicitly prohibits the director from adopting rules that apply section 45-576.08 to any city or town in the Phoenix AMA that has received a designation of assured water supply, thereby limiting the director's regulatory power in this context.

Additionally, the bill mandates that within thirty days of its effective date, the ADWR Director must conduct a review of the physical availability of groundwater and stored water for each city or town in the Phoenix AMA that has received an assured water supply designation. This requirement is a new insertion that aims to ensure timely assessments of water availability in designated areas, enhancing oversight and management of water resources in the region.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-576.09