appropriation; irrigation grandfathered rights; retirement

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Money for Water Rights Retirement

This bill gives $50 million to help people who have old water rights in Arizona retire or reduce them.

What This Bill Does

• Gives the Department of Water Resources $50 million from the state's money.
• Uses this money to buy and end old irrigation water rights by December 31, 2026.
• Allows the department to keep using this money even if normal rules say it should stop.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who have old irrigation water rights in Arizona
• The Department of Water Resources

Terms To Know

Irrigation grandfathered rights

Old water rights that allow people to use a certain amount of water for farming or other uses.

Department of Water Resources (ADWR)

The state agency in charge of managing and protecting Arizona's water resources.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how the $50 million will be spent exactly.
• Does not explain what happens if the $50 million is used up before December 31, 2026.

Official Summary Text

HB4108 - appropriation; irrigation grandfathered rights; retirement

Current Bill Text

HB4108 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
appropriation; irrigation
grandfathered rights; retirement

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 4108

Introduced by

Representative
Mathis

AN
ACT

appropriating monies to the DEPARTMENT of
water resources.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.
Appropriation;
department of water resources; retirement of irrigation grandfathered rights;
fiscal year 2026-2027; exemption

A. The sum of $50,000,000
is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the
department of water resources to compensate irrigation grandfathered rights
holders for the permanent retirement or reduction of the holder's water duty.

B. On or before December
31, 2026, the director of the department of water resources shall begin
purchasing and retiring irrigation grandfathered rights, including conservation
agreements that result in irrigation grandfathered rights holders permanently
reducing their annual allotments.

C. The appropriation made
in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section
35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.