The bill amends the Water Code to enhance the management plans adopted by groundwater conservation districts. Key changes include the requirement for management plans to be developed using the district's best available data and to be forwarded to the regional water planning group. Additionally, the plans must include the most recently approved desired future conditions and the corresponding amount of modeled available groundwater. A new provision mandates that districts must amend their management plans within two years of adopting desired future conditions. Furthermore, if a petition challenging the reasonableness of a desired future condition is filed, the management plan can still be considered administratively complete if it includes specific information regarding the desired future conditions and the status of the petition.

The bill also clarifies the process for the executive administrator's approval of management plans, stating that a plan is administratively complete if it meets the requirements outlined in the amended sections. The changes in law regarding petitions apply only to those filed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. This ensures that any petitions filed before this date will be governed by the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 36.1071, Water Code 36.1072 (Water Code 36)
House Committee Report: Water Code 36.1071, Water Code 36.1072 (Water Code 36)