surface water; irrigation; definition

HB2151 - surface water; irrigation; definition

Agriculture Water

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Gail Griffin
Last action: 2026-01-14
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on penalties for non-compliance with the new definition.

Surface Water for Irrigation

This bill changes the definition of 'irrigation' to include using water on land to produce plants or parts of plants for sale, human consumption, or animal feed.

What This Bill Does

Changes how 'irrigation' is defined in Arizona's laws.
Includes growing crops for sale under the definition of irrigation.
Adds human consumption and animal feed production to the definition of irrigation.

Who It Names or Affects

People who use surface water for irrigation purposes in Arizona.
Farmers and ranchers who grow crops or raise animals using irrigation.

Terms To Know

irrigation: Using water on lands to produce plants or parts of plants for sale, human consumption, or animal feed.
livestock: Defined elsewhere in Arizona Revised Statutes.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how the changes will be enforced.
Does not address other uses of surface water beyond irrigation.

Bill History

2026-01-14 House
House second read
2026-01-13 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-13 House
House Natural Resources, Energy & Water: None
2026-01-13 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2151 - surface water; irrigation; definition

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2151 - 572R - I Ver

PREFILED��� JAN 07 2026

REFERENCE TITLE:
surface water; irrigation; definition

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2151

Introduced by

Representative
Griffin

AN
ACT

Amending section 45-151, Arizona
Revised Statutes; RELATING to water rights.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 45-151, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
45-151.

Right of appropriation; permitted uses; water rights in
stockponds; definition

A. Any person,
the

this
state
of Arizona
or a political
subdivision
thereof

of this state

may appropriate unappropriated water for domestic, municipal, irrigation, stock
watering, water power, recreation, wildlife, including fish, nonrecoverable
water storage pursuant to section 45-833.01 or mining uses, for
his
personal use or for delivery to consumers. The
person,
the

this
state
of Arizona
or a political subdivision
thereof

of this state
first appropriating the water shall have
the better right.

B. To effect the beneficial use, the person,
the

this
state
of Arizona

or a political subdivision
thereof

of this
state
appropriating the water may construct and maintain reservoirs,
storage facilities pursuant to chapter 3.1 of this title, dams, canals,
ditches, flumes and other necessary waterways.

C. A water right in a stockpond, certified pursuant
to article 10 of this chapter, shall be recognized as if such water had been
appropriated pursuant to this article.

D. For the purposes of this section,
"irrigation" means the use of water on lands to produce plants or
parts of plants for any of the following:

1. Sale.

2. Human consumption.

3. Use as feed for livestock, range
livestock or poultry.� For the purposes of this paragraph,
"livestock", "range livestock" and "poultry" have
the same meanings prescribed in section 3-1201.
END_STATUTE