SB 1425 Summary

• Establishes five initial rural groundwater management areas (Gila Bend, Hualapai Valley, Ranegras Plain, San Simon Valley, and Willcox) outside active management areas to manage groundwater through local councils and management plans.

• Creates a framework for groundwater use in rural areas through certificates of groundwater use and permits, with annual conservation reduction requirements starting at 10% by year ten of the first management period.

• Establishes rural groundwater management area councils composed of five members representing industrial, irrigation, and municipal users plus two at-large members to develop and implement management plans with conservation goals.

• Requires water adequacy determinations for subdivisions in rural groundwater management areas and allows counties and cities to adopt mandatory water adequacy requirements for plat approval, similar to active management area rules.

• Repeals the Willcox active management area and replaces it with the Willcox rural groundwater management area, effective through December 31, 2025.