Water Management

Prohibits mixed-use developments from including hotels or motels if two-thirds of space is for residential use. Allows residential hotels and short-term rentals that comply with local laws after occupancy. Strengthens enforcement against local agencies that improperly deny affordable housing projects. Requires local agencies to pay minimum fines of $10,000 per unit for violations.

Establishes two new drought relief grant programs for urban and rural communities in California. Funds water system improvements to reduce wildfire risk in high-risk fire zones. Provides emergency water supplies through temporary tanks, hauled water, and new infrastructure. Supports water conservation projects including education and turf replacement programs.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to regulate water systems and water districts in California.

Extends the deadline for municipal wastewater agencies to file stormwater agreements from 30 to 40 days. Maintains existing authority for wastewater agencies to manage stormwater and collect related fees. Requires filing agreements with local agency formation commissions in all counties where the agency operates.

Requires public housing authorities to inform residents about free water lead testing programs. Mandates cities and counties to provide lead testing information to all public housing residents. Establishes state reimbursement for local agencies to implement the information program.

Expands the State Water Board's authority to investigate and determine water rights in California stream systems. Requires water users to respond to information orders about their water usage within 75 days. Authorizes the Board to conduct property inspections and obtain warrants to verify water usage claims. Mandates detailed reporting from water users when existing information is deemed inadequate by the Board.

Streamlines groundwater rights cases by allowing courts to separately process claims for minor water users. Establishes automatic accuracy presumption for water users claiming less than 100 acre-feet per year. Requires groundwater agencies to provide technical reports on water usage for non-participating parties. Mandates electronic submission of water usage disclosures with updates required for material changes.

Requires courts to align groundwater adjudication decisions with existing sustainability plans and pumping limits. Mandates consolidation of legal challenges to groundwater plans with ongoing basin adjudications. Establishes a 90-day deadline to legally challenge groundwater agency decisions. Requires courts to consider impacts on small farmers and disadvantaged communities in water rights decisions.

Requires public hearings for hydroelectric facility certifications when requested by applicants within 14 days. Mandates that public hearings must occur at least 21 days before certification decisions. Authorizes the State Water Board to charge fees covering the costs of required public hearings. Prohibits delegation of certification authority when public hearings are requested.

Establishes water storage as California's preferred method for meeting future water demands. Requires the Department of Water Resources to update the state water plan to prioritize storage solutions. Aims to address growing water needs across urban, agricultural, and environmental sectors.

Establishes new statewide water quality permits for large commercial and industrial properties by 2028. Requires properties with 5+ acres of impervious surface to control stormwater runoff and pollution. Creates options for compliance through green infrastructure or offsite stormwater capture. Mandates agreements between property owners and local governments for offsite water management.

Establishes a new 'Water Wise' designation program to recognize businesses that excel in water conservation practices. Requires commercial and industrial businesses to meet specific water management standards for certification. Integrates the designation program into the existing Save Our Water Campaign without new funding.

Requires Delta Stewardship Council appointees to have specific knowledge about the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Expands appeal rights to state and local agencies for challenging Delta Plan consistency certifications. Establishes a 90-day deadline for legal challenges to Delta Plan decisions and amendments. Makes Delta Plan provisions severable so invalidation of one part does not affect other sections.

Establishes new safety regulations for carbon dioxide pipelines to protect public health and the environment by April 2026. Requires all carbon dioxide pipelines to be newly constructed rather than converted from existing pipelines. Authorizes the State Fire Marshal to shut down carbon dioxide pipelines that violate safety standards. Mandates safety standards review every five years to maintain up-to-date protections.

Requires the Department of Water Resources to use experimental tools for predicting atmospheric river patterns. Mandates improved forecasting methods to better protect communities from floods and maximize water storage. Enhances the state's ability to predict weather patterns up to six months in advance. Requires sharing of forecast data with federal, state, and local agencies to improve emergency response.

Shortens the time limit for filing childhood sexual assault claims that occurred before 2024 to 3 years from discovery. Requires plaintiffs over 40 to prove gross negligence when suing public entities for sexual assault claims. Mandates all MacLaren Children's Center abuse claims be filed by January 1, 2026. Extends school district emergency loan repayment terms from 20 to 30 years.

Makes technical changes to groundwater basin boundary provisions in state law.

Requires the Department of Justice to create a searchable public database of known phone scams by 2027. Mandates monthly updates to the database with verified reports of new phone scams. Establishes a system for the public to report suspected phone scams and search existing cases. Requires annual legislative reports on phone scam trends starting January 2028.

Encourages public water systems to send emergency notifications via text, email, and social media. Promotes multilingual emergency notifications to water users in their preferred languages when resources allow. Requires water systems to maintain approved emergency notification plans for bacterial or safety issues. Mandates state oversight of emergency notification plans through new regulations.

Prohibits federal reservoirs in California from releasing water under fraudulent or false purposes. Authorizes the State Water Board and Attorney General to seek injunctive relief against violations. Defines false pretenses as knowingly misrepresenting the purpose and intended use of released water.

Requires water systems to track and report lead testing data from schools and childcare facilities by 2028. Mandates public online access to lead testing results with highlighted levels above safety thresholds. Creates a standardized process for schools to document reasons for declining lead testing. Requires water suppliers to include lead testing information in annual consumer reports by 2028.

Creates the Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency to manage groundwater resources in Tulare County. Establishes a five-member board including water district, county, and agricultural representatives. Authorizes the agency to collect fees, conduct studies, and enforce groundwater extraction regulations. Requires development of a sustainability plan to achieve long-term groundwater management goals.

Establishes a state program providing free swim lesson vouchers to low-income children under 18 years old. Creates a public online directory of swim lesson programs searchable by county across California. Requires drowning prevention organizations to provide free water safety materials to public schools. Mandates completion of the voucher program and directory development by July 2027.

Exempts a Chico sediment removal project from environmental review requirements to address flooding risks. Creates a special exemption for the Five-Mile Basin project due to unique local flooding concerns. Allows immediate project implementation without environmental impact studies or public review periods.

Exempts small water suppliers from water metering requirements if they cannot secure state funding or raise local rates. Requires small water suppliers to implement backup power systems by January 2024 to ensure continuous operations. Mandates water suppliers maintain membership in mutual aid organizations starting January 2023. Requires suppliers to establish backup water sources sufficient for daily demand by January 2027.