Arizona SB 1298: fire districts; pension liability; financing

Bill Text

SB1298 - 572R - I Ver 

 REFERENCE TITLE: well drilling application; location; GPS

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 SB 1298

 Introduced by 

 Senators 
 Gabald�n: Sundareshan

AN 
ACT

amending section 45-596, Arizona 
Revised Statutes; relating to wells.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 45-596, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE45-596. Notice of intention to drill; fee

A. In an area that is not 
subject to active management, a person may not drill or cause to be drilled any 
well or deepen an existing well without first filing a notice 
of intention to drill pursuant to subsection C of this section or obtaining a 
permit pursuant to section 45-834.01.� Only one notice of intention to 
drill is required for all wells that are drilled by or for the same person to 
obtain geophysical, mineralogical or geotechnical data within a single section 
of land.

B. In an active management area, a person may not 
drill or cause to be drilled an exempt well, a replacement well in 
approximately the same location or any other well for which a permit is not 
required under this article, article 7 of this chapter or section 45-834.01 
or deepen an existing well without first filing a notice of intention to drill 
pursuant to subsection C of this section.� Only one notice of intention to 
drill is required for all wells that are drilled by or for the same person to 
obtain geophysical, mineralogical or geotechnical data within a single section 
of land.

C. A notice of intention to drill shall be filed 
with the director on a form that is prescribed and furnished by the director 
and that shall include:

1. The name and mailing address of the person filing 
the notice.

2. The legal description of the land on which the 
well is proposed to be drilled and the name and mailing address of the owner of 
the land.

3. The legal description and global 
positioning system coordinates of the location of the well on the land.

4. The depth, diameter and type of casing of the 
proposed well.

5. Such legal description of the land on which the 
groundwater is proposed to be used as may be required by the director to 
administer this chapter.

6. When construction is to begin.

7. The proposed uses to which the groundwater will 
be applied.

8. The name and well driller's license number of the 
well driller who is to construct the well.

9. The design pumping capacity of the well.

10. If for a replacement well, the maximum capacity 
of the original well and the distance of the replacement well from the original 
well.

11. Proof that the director determines to be 
satisfactory that the person proposing to construct the well holds a valid 
license issued by the registrar of contractors pursuant to title 32, chapter 10 
and that the license is of the type necessary to construct the well described 
in the notice of intention to drill.� If the proposed well driller does not 
hold a valid license, the director may accept proof that the proposed well 
driller is exempt from licensing as prescribed by section 32-1121.

12. If any water from the proposed well will be used 
for domestic purposes as defined in section 45-454, evidence of 
compliance with the requirements of subsection F of this section.

13. If for a second exempt well at the same location 
for the same use pursuant to section 45-454, subsection I, proof that the 
requirements of that subsection are met.

14. If for a well to obtain geophysical, 
mineralogical or geotechnical data within a single section of land, the 
information prescribed by this subsection for each well that will be included 
in that section of land before each well is drilled.

15. Such other information as the director may 
require.

D. On receiving a notice of intention to drill and 
the fee required by subsection L of this section, the director shall endorse on 
the notice the date of its receipt.� The director shall then determine whether 
all information that is required has been submitted and whether the 
requirements of subsection C, paragraphs 11 and 12 and subsection I of this 
section have been met.� If so, within fifteen days of after receipt of the notice, or such longer time as provided 
in subsection J of this section, the director shall record the notice, mail a 
drilling card that authorizes the drilling of the well to the well driller 
identified in the notice and mail written notice of the issuance of the 
drilling card to the person filing the notice of intention to drill at the 
address stated in the notice.� On receipt of the drilling card, the well 
driller may proceed to drill or deepen the well as described in the notice of 
intention to drill.� If the director determines that the required information 
has not been submitted or that the requirements of subsection C, paragraphs 11 
and 12 or subsection I of this section