The bill proposes amendments to the Arizona Revised Statutes relating to the groundwater code. It introduces changes to the process of designating irrigation non-expansion areas and the criteria for determining if an area has a reasonably safe supply of groundwater for irrigation. The bill specifies that decisions by the director regarding the sufficiency of petitions for designating such areas are not subject to judicial review, but decisions that a petition does not comply are appealable. Additionally, the bill clarifies the eligibility of irrigation users to sign petitions and requires a numeric groundwater flow model and hydrologic report to accompany petitions.

Key changes include the removal of the requirement for a motion for rehearing or review to be filed for judicial review of the director's decisions, except for decisions under section 45-436. The bill also revises the criteria for designating irrigation non-expansion areas, allowing the director to consider future changes to withdrawal rates and defining a "reasonably safe supply for irrigation" as a reliable source of groundwater for 100 years. The bill modifies the petition process for designating non-expansion areas, including the requirements for petition signatories and the submission of technical reports. It also establishes that the director's findings and orders regarding the designation of non-expansion areas are final and not appealable, but are subject to judicial review after publication.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-114, 45-432, 45-433, 45-434, 45-435, 45-436, 45-476.01, 41-1092.09, 41-1092.08, 45-404, 45-414, 45-571, 45-576.03, 45-412, 16-168, 19-111