Bill > SB1265

This bill makes a technical correction to Arizona's water law regarding active management areas (AMAs), which are regions with special groundwater management regulations. The bill amends Section 45-462 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to clarify provisions about grandfathered groundwater rights. Specifically, the bill makes a minor typographical correction by changing the word "applicaton" to "application" in the section describing certificate of exemption. The bill reaffirms that in an AMA, people who were legally withdrawing and using groundwater before the area's designation retain their right to continue using groundwater, and that groundwater use will not be considered illegal simply because it has been transported. The bill also outlines three categories of grandfathered rights: non-irrigation rights associated with retired irrigated land, non-irrigation rights not associated with retired land, and irrigation grandfathered rights. These provisions ensure that existing water users are protected and have a clear legal framework for continued water use in active management areas.

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82624