Bill > SB1518

This bill addresses irrigation grandfathered rights in subsequent active management areas (AMAs), which are designated regions with specific groundwater management regulations. The bill allows owners of irrigation grandfathered rights to have more flexibility in how they use, sell, transfer, or lease their water rights and associated water duty (the volume of water historically used for irrigation). Specifically, landowners can choose not to irrigate a portion of their land and then sell, transfer, or lease the water rights associated with those non-irrigated acres to another irrigator within the same AMA. The recipient of these water rights can use them anywhere within the subsequent AMA and can further transfer them. Landowners must notify the director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources about any water right transfers, providing details such as the acres not being irrigated, intended use, and terms of any transfer or lease. The bill also requires the director to develop rules for implementing these flexible water right transfers, potentially including methods like flexibility accounts to track and manage the water rights.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82955