The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding groundwater withdrawal fees in Arizona, specifically extending the moratorium on levying and collecting these fees in the Pinal active management area (AMA) until January 1, 2031. This includes maintaining the cap of $2.50 per acre-foot per year for groundwater and irrigation efficiency projects in the Pinal AMA, which would also be extended to the same date. Additionally, the timeline for distributing unencumbered funds from the Temporary Groundwater and Irrigation Efficiency Projects fund would be delayed from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2032, and the repeal of the fund would be postponed from April 1, 2028, to April 1, 2033.

The bill also includes technical changes to clarify the language regarding the fees and their application. Specifically, it modifies the current law to reflect the new deadlines and caps, ensuring that no fees will be levied in the Pinal AMA for Arizona water banking purposes during the years leading up to 2031. Overall, these updates aim to provide continued support for groundwater management and efficiency projects in the region while adjusting the timelines for financial distributions and fee implementations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-611, 45-615.01, 45-411.01, 48-4831