Water Management

Prohibits mixed-use developments from including hotels or motels when two-thirds of space is residential. Applies retroactively to incomplete applications as of January 1, 2025, including prior preliminary submissions. Strengthens enforcement by allowing courts to issue compliance orders and levy fines starting at $10,000 per unit. Requires local agencies to provide written justification within 30-60 days when rejecting housing projects.

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 future legislation.

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 water systems to inform public housing residents about free lead testing programs. Applies to both community and non-community water systems serving government-managed public housing. Expands existing lead safety measures by focusing on resident awareness and testing access.

Expands the State Water Board's authority to investigate and monitor water rights claims in stream systems. Requires water users to submit monthly usage reports within 45 days of receiving an information order. Authorizes the Board to inspect water-related properties and facilities with a warrant. Establishes cost-sharing requirements for technical reports among multiple water users.

Establishes new rules for challenging groundwater sustainability agency decisions in court. Requires groundwater agencies to provide technical reports on water usage during legal disputes. Makes groundwater agency technical reports automatically admissible as evidence in court. Mandates courts to distribute the costs of technical reports fairly among involved parties.

Strengthens groundwater management by requiring courts to follow sustainability plans when setting water usage limits. Mandates consolidation of legal challenges to groundwater sustainability plans to streamline court proceedings. Requires courts to consider impacts on small farmers and disadvantaged communities in groundwater decisions. Sets a 180-day deadline for agencies to validate their groundwater sustainability plans after adoption.

Requires public hearings 21 days before approving hydroelectric facility operating licenses. Centralizes authority for hydroelectric facility certifications within the state water board. Allows early certification before environmental reviews to prevent federal authority waivers.

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 a statewide permit system to regulate stormwater discharge from large commercial properties over 5 acres. Requires the state water board to publish draft regulations by December 31, 2028. Creates a model agreement for properties to partner with local municipalities on stormwater capture. Provides multiple compliance options including onsite and offsite stormwater capture systems.

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.

Expands Delta Plan appeals to include state and local agencies for water management decisions. Establishes a 90-day deadline for legal challenges to Delta Plan decisions. Makes Delta Plan provisions severable so invalidation of one part does not affect others.

Expands state regulation of carbon dioxide pipelines under the State Fire Marshal's authority by April 2026. Requires pipeline operators to meet new safety standards and demonstrate compliance with environmental laws. Creates an advisory committee to recommend safety standards and inform local agencies of regulatory changes. Authorizes immediate pipeline shutdowns if operations pose risks to health, welfare, or environment.

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.

Establishes a 5-year limit for refiling dismissed childhood sexual assault cases. Requires plaintiffs over 40 to obtain mental health practitioner certification before filing abuse claims. Allows defendants to recover legal costs if a civil case is dismissed for lack of reasonable cause. Permits public agencies to issue refunding bonds for tort judgments under specific conditions.

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

Requires the Department of Justice to create a public database of known phone scams by January 2027. Mandates monthly updates to the database with new scam phone numbers and tactics. Establishes a public reporting system for consumers to report suspected phone scams. Provides guidance on identifying and avoiding fraudulent phone communications.

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 the release of reservoir water under false pretenses about its intended use in California. Authorizes the State Water Board to issue immediate stop orders for suspicious water releases. Establishes misdemeanor penalties of up to $2,000 and six months in jail for violations. Requires water release disputes to receive a hearing within 15 days of request.

Requires schools and childcare facilities to participate in lead water testing or explain their decline by 2026. Mandates public disclosure of all school lead testing results on the state water board website by 2028. Authorizes emergency regulations to protect children from lead exposure in drinking water. Establishes criminal penalties for falsifying lead testing reports or documentation.

Establishes the Tulare Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency to manage groundwater resources in Tulare County. Creates a five-member board including representatives from water districts, county, and agricultural interests. Authorizes the agency to impose fees on groundwater extraction and develop sustainability plans. Requires board members to be selected by November 30, 2026 to oversee groundwater management activities.

Establishes a state program providing free swim lesson vouchers to children from low-income families. 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 the Department of Education to publish water safety resources on its website.

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.