ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

Senate: NR DP 5-1-2-0 | Third Read 27-0-3-0

SB 1287: stock watering; active management areas

Sponsor: Senator Dunn, LD 25

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Overview

Expands, to all active management areas (AMAs) from only initial AMAs, where a person with a certificate of irrigation grandfathered right (IGFR) is allowed to withdraw groundwater for stock watering or domestic purposes.

History

A person who owns land which was irrigated in whole or in part with groundwater at any time during the five years preceding the date of the notice of the initiation of designation procedures or the call for the election for subsequent AMAs, which is capable of being irrigated and which has not been retired from irrigation has the right to use groundwater for the irrigation of such land (A.R.S. § 45-465).

There are currently eight AMAs that are subject to regulation according to the Arizona Groundwater Code. There are five initial AMAs (Prescott, Phoenix, Pinal, Tucson and Santa Cruz) and three subsequent AMAs (Douglas, Willcox and Ranegras) (ADWR).

Currently, a person holding an IGFR may withdraw ten acre-feet of groundwater annually from any non-exempt well in an initial AMA for domestic purposes or stock watering (A.R.S. § 45-465.03).

Provisions

1. Allows a person who holds an IGFR in any AMA, rather than any initial AMA, to annually withdraw ten acre-feet of groundwater from non-exempt wells for domestic purposes or stock watering if prescribed conditions are met. (Sec. 1)

2. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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6. Initials CW/RS SB 1287

7. 3/3/2026 Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy & Water

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