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AB 26302025–2026 SessionREPORTEDDEMOCRAT

Water diversion and use: adoption of regulations.

Introduced Feb 20, 2026Steve Bennett (D-CA)

Summary

Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt regulations requiring measurement and reporting of water diversion and use by persons, including, among others, those authorized to appropriate water under a permit, a license, a registration for small domestic, small irrigation, or livestock stockpond use, or a certificate for livestock stockpond use. For the initial regulations, existing law requires that they be adopted as emergency regulations and provides that the emergency regulations remain in effect until revised by the state board. Existing law also exempts the initial regulations from the California Environmental Quality Act. This bill would require, until January 1, 2032, that all further regulations adopted by the state board pursuant to these provisions be adopted as emergency regulations and remain in effect until revised by the state board, and would exempt them from the California Environmental Quality Act.

Bill text versions

Legislative Journey

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Floor
  4. Passed Chamber 1
  5. Passed Chamber 2
  6. Signed
Feb 20, 2026

Read first time. To print.

House
Feb 21, 2026

From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

House
Mar 9, 2026

Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and NAT. RES.

House
Mar 25, 2026

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 8. Noes 4.) (March 24).

House
Mar 26, 2026

Read second time and amended.

House