Arizona SB 1559: rural groundwater management; work groups

Bill Text

SB1559 - 572R - S Ver 

 Senate Engrossed

 rural groundwater 
 management; work groups

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 SENATE BILL 1559

AN 
ACT

amending section 41-6054, Arizona 
Revised Statutes; Amending title 45, chapter 2, article 9, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, by adding section 45-580.01; RELATING to groundwater 
management.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 41-6054, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-6054. Powers of district

A. This state recognizes the special expertise of 
the districts in the fields of land, soil, water and natural resources 
management within the boundaries of the district.� A district is empowered to:

1. Conduct surveys, investigations and research 
relating to the character of the soil, soil erosion prevention within a farm or 
ranch, methods of cultivation, farm and range practices, seeding, eradicating 
noxious growths and invasive vegetation and any other measures that will aid 
farm and range operations, disseminate information and educate landowners 
pertaining thereto, and carry on research programs with or without the 
cooperation of this state or its agencies or the United States or its agencies.

2. Create and administer a soil health program that 
promotes implementation of soil health practices, research projects, 
demonstration projects, educational projects or other activities appropriate to 
promote the continuing capacity for soil to function as a vital living 
biological system that sustains plants, animals and humans, increased soil 
organic matter, improved soil structure, water-holding and nutrient-holding 
capacity or nutrient cycling.

3. Conduct demonstration projects within the 
district on lands owned or controlled by the state or any of its agencies with 
the consent and cooperation of the agency having jurisdiction of the land, and 
on any other lands within the district on obtaining the consent of the 
landowner or the necessary rights or interests in the land, in order to 
demonstrate by example the means, methods and measures by which water, soil and 
soil resources may be conserved and soil erosion and soil washing may be 
prevented and controlled.

4. Cooperate, coordinate and enter into agreements 
with a landowner, an operator or any agency or subdivision of the state or 
federal government to carry on programs of watershed improvement, soil erosion 
prevention, methods of cultivation, cropping practices, land leveling and 
improvement on agricultural lands, and programs limited to methods of proper 
range land use, reseeding and eradicating noxious growth and invasive 
vegetation on grazing lands, all within the limits of an individual farm or 
ranch and subject to the conditions the supervisors deem necessary.

5. Acquire, by purchase, exchange, lease or 
otherwise, any property, real or personal, or rights or interest in any 
property, maintain, administer and improve any properties acquired, receive 
income from any property or right or interest in property and expend it in 
carrying out the purposes of this chapter, and sell, lease or otherwise dispose 
of any property or interest in property in furtherance of the purposes of this 
chapter.

6. Make available, on the terms it prescribes to 
landowners within the district, agricultural and engineering machinery and 
equipment, fertilizer, seed and other material or equipment as will assist the 
landowners to carry on operations on their lands for the purposes and programs 
authorized by this chapter.

7. Develop, publish and bring to the attention of 
landowners within the district comprehensive plans for conserving soil and 
water resources within the district that specify in such detail as may be 
feasible the acts, procedures, performances and avoidances necessary or 
desirable to effect the plans.

8. Apply for, receive and spend monies from the 
Arizona water protection fund pursuant to title 45, chapter 12 to be used in 
individual districts or in cooperation with other districts, persons, cities, 
towns, counties, special districts and Indian communities for projects 
consistent with title 45, chapter 12.

9. Employ agents, engineers, attorneys or other 
employees not readily available from existing state agencies.

10. Sue and be sued in the name of the district, 
have a seal, which shall be judicially noticed, have perpetual succession 
unless terminated as provided in this chapter, make and execute contracts and 
other instruments necessary or convenient to exercise its powers and make, 
amend and repeal rules not inconsistent with this chapter to effect its 
purposes and powers.

11. Apply for grants and accept donations, gifts and 
contributions in monies, services, materials or otherwise, and use or expend 
them in carrying on its operations.

12. Organize and establish an education center to 
increase the kno