SB 1145 Summary

• Amends section 45-615.01 of Arizona Revised Statutes to modify the temporary groundwater and irrigation efficiency projects fund, which provides grants to qualified irrigation districts for well construction and rehabilitation in three active management areas.

• Expands eligibility criteria for "qualified irrigation district" by removing the requirement that districts did not deliver surface water other than Central Arizona Project water in calendar year 2017, allowing more districts to apply.

• Establishes a sunset provision requiring any unencumbered monies in the fund to be proportionally distributed back to contributors by December 31, 2027, with groundwater withdrawal fee monies redirected to the Arizona water banking fund.

• Designates groundwater withdrawal fees deposited in the fund for exclusive use in constructing and rehabilitating wells and infrastructure in the Pinal active management area.

• Declared an emergency measure operative immediately upon passage.