Revises provisions relating to water. (BDR 48-386)

AB 485 revises water assessment rules by prohibiting counties from using special assessments or general funds to pay for state employees (well supervisors and assistants) who are subject to public employee laws. It eliminates a $1 minimum charge for agricultural groundwater assessments and replaces it with a maximum charge that adjusts annually based on inflation, allowing the State Engineer to increase it with county commission approval. The bill also appropriates funds for updating groundwater basin water budgets, monitoring water resources, digitizing records, and hiring staff for water rights adjudication. These changes primarily affect agricultural water users and county governments managing water assessments.