Zoning: Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley.

Senator Ashby's flood protection legislation extends the deadline for achieving urban-level flood protection from 2025 to 2030 in specific areas of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley, while establishing new accountability measures for local governments.

The bill designates five jurisdictions for the extended timeline: the Natomas and Beach Lake subareas of Sacramento, portions of Sacramento and Sutter Counties, and areas protected by the Marysville Ring Levee. In these locations, cities and counties must demonstrate that new development meets flood protection standards through existing facilities, imposed conditions, or adequate progress on flood control systems. Until areas achieve the required urban level of protection, the Department of Water Resources may require local jurisdictions to contribute their proportional share of costs for flood-related property damage.

The legislation maintains existing requirements for development agreements, discretionary permits, and subdivision approvals in flood hazard zones. Local governments must continue verifying that projects meet Federal Emergency Management Agency standards in non-urbanized areas and urban-level protection in urban and urbanizing areas before approval. The bill preserves current flood management laws necessary for participation in the national flood insurance program.