Bill > HB2270

This bill amends Arizona's groundwater management laws by adding a new section that requires the state's water resources director to update groundwater modeling for Active Management Areas (AMAs), which are regions with specific groundwater conservation regulations. The bill mandates that the director adopt rules to account for stormwater recharge—water from rain or runoff that naturally seeps into underground aquifers—created through new or existing infrastructure. Specifically, the director must update the groundwater model annually to reflect natural, incidental, or artificial stormwater recharge and assume that this recharge will offset a portion of future groundwater usage. This approach aims to more accurately track and credit water resources in Arizona's carefully managed groundwater systems, potentially providing a more comprehensive understanding of water availability and usage in areas experiencing water scarcity or conservation challenges.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82025