REFERENCE TITLE: appropriation; irrigation grandfathered rights; retirement

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

2025

HB 2246

Introduced by

Representatives Mathis: De Los Santos, Villegas

AN ACT

appropriating monies to the DEPARTMENT of water resources.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Appropriation; department of water resources; retirement of irrigation grandfathered rights; fiscal year 2025-2026; exemption

A. The sum of $50,000,000 is appropriated from the long-term water augmentation fund established by section 49-1302, Arizona Revised Statutes, in fiscal year 2025-2026 to the department of water resources to compensate irrigation grandfathered rights holders for the permanent retirement or reduction of the holder's water duty.

B. On or before December 31, 2025, the director of the department of water resources shall begin purchasing and retiring irrigation grandfathered rights, including conservation agreements that result in irrigation grandfathered rights holders permanently reducing their annual allotments.

C. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.