Bill > HB2478

This bill amends Arizona's groundwater code to modify procedures for designating and managing subsequent irrigation non-expansion areas, which are regions with limited groundwater resources. The bill introduces several key changes, including: clarifying the criteria for establishing these areas by defining a "reasonably safe supply for irrigation" as a reliable groundwater source for 100 years, specifying more precise requirements for who can petition for area designation (such as requiring landowners who have irrigated at least two acres within the past five years), and mandating that petitions include a detailed groundwater flow model and hydrologic report prepared by a professional geologist or engineer. The bill also refines administrative procedures, such as limiting judicial review of area designation to only those who submitted evidence at the public hearing and establishing a three-year waiting period before a new petition can be filed if an area is not designated. Additionally, the bill makes technical changes to language throughout the statutes, including standardizing terminology and updating procedural references. These modifications aim to provide more structured and scientifically rigorous processes for managing groundwater resources in areas with potential water supply constraints.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82259