Arizona Senate Bill SB1636

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/26

Caption

Subsequent irrigation; non-expansion areas; procedures.

Impact

The bill outlines detailed procedures for declaring an area an irrigation non-expansion area, including public hearings and the necessity for supporting documentation, such as groundwater flow models and hydrologic reports. It stipulates that only lands that have been irrigated in the past five years may continue to be irrigated in designated non-expansion areas until the director issues a final decision on the area's status.

Summary

SB1636, introduced by Senator Sundareshan, aims to amend sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes related to the groundwater code. The primary focus of the bill is the establishment of subsequent irrigation non-expansion areas. This designation is specifically intended for zones outside active management areas where groundwater resources are insufficient for ensuring reliable irrigation supplies. The director has the authority to designate these areas after evaluating groundwater withdrawal rates and determining that an active management area is not necessary.

Contention

One notable point of contention may arise from the bill's reliance on local user petitions to initiate the designation process. This requirement ensures local involvement but also places a burden on irrigation users to meet specific criteria, which could limit community engagement or access. If a petition is denied, a three-year waiting period is imposed before another petition for the same area can be submitted, potentially leading to dissatisfaction among stakeholders who feel their needs are not being adequately addressed.