On the agenda: Riverside meeting — data center (Aug 25)

WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside, CA 92518
AGENDA
COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE MEETING
AUGUST 25, 2026, at 9:30 AM
To join the Zoom virtual meeting: https://wmwd.zoom.us/j/88530429918
or telephone access: (669) 219‐2599 or (669) 900‐6833
Meeting ID: 885 3042 9918

Members of the public may view and/or participate in this meeting in person, online via
Zoom, or by viewing the live‐streamed meeting at www.WesternWaterCA.gov. This
meeting may also be video recorded for on demand viewing and broadcasting purposes.
Primary notice of this meeting will be the physical posting of the agenda in the public
notice area, located at the District’s Headquarters office, 14205 Meridian Parkway,
Riverside, California 92518. In addition, every effort will be made to publish this agenda
on the District’s website at: https://westernwaterca.gov/agendacenter, subject to technical
difficulties, such as power failure, internet disruption, or other third-party interference.
Members of the public who wish to comment on any item within the jurisdiction of the
District, or any item on the agenda, may make comments in person, virtually via Zoom at
the time noted on the agenda, or by submitting comments in writing at the following web
address: https://westernwaterca.gov/FormCenter, by in‐person delivery or via U.S. Mail
addressed to the District’s Headquarters office. Written comments received by 4:30 p.m.
on August 24, 2026, will become part of the Board meeting record. Pursuant to
Government Code Section 54957.5, any writing that (1) is a public record; (2) relates to
an agenda item set for open session of a regular meeting of the Board of Directors; and
(3) is distributed less than 72 hours prior to that meeting, will be made available for public
inspection at the time the writing is distributed to the Board of Directors. Any such writing
will be available for public inspection at the District office located at 14205 Meridian
Parkway, Riverside, California 92518. In addition, such writing may also be posted on the
District’s website at https://westernwaterca.gov/agendacenter. Any person with a
disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in this
meeting, or the agenda or agenda packet documents made available in an appropriate
alternative format, or any person with limited English proficiency (LEP) who requires
language assistance to communicate with the Western Municipal Water District Board of
Directors during the meeting, should contact the Western Municipal Water District Board
Secretary at (951) 571‐7209 or [email protected], no less than 72 hours prior
to this meeting, to enable the Western Municipal Water District to make reasonable
arrangements to ensure accessibility or language assistance for this meeting.

Western Water | Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Members of the public may address the Committee regarding any item within the subject matter
jurisdiction of the Committee; however, no action may be taken on off‐agenda items unless
authorized by law. Comments shall be limited to matters not listed on the agenda. Members of
the public may comment on any matter listed on the agenda at the time that the Committee
considers that matter. Each individual’s comment is limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes;
however, the Presiding Officer reserves the right to reduce the amount of time each individual
can speak in order to ensure all members of the public have an opportunity to comment.

4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar items are expected to be routine and non‐controversial and are to be acted
upon by the Committee by one motion, without discussion. If any Committee member, staff
member, or interested person requests that an item be removed from the Consent Calendar for
further discussion, it will be moved to the first item on the Action Agenda.

A. Approve the Minutes of the July 28, 2026, Community and Government Affairs
Committee Meeting of the Whole
5. ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA
(If any) In accordance with Section 54954.2 of the Government Code, upon determination by a
two‐thirds vote of the legislative body, or, if less than two‐thirds of the members are present, a
unanimous vote of those members present that there is a need to take action, and the need to
take action arose after the agenda was posted.

6. RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE MADE TO THE FULL BOARD
The following items on the Agenda call for discussion and action by the Committee. All items are
placed on the Agenda so that the Committee may discuss and take action on the item, if the
Committee is so inclined.

A. Receive and File the August 2026 Government Affairs and Legislative Update

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Western Water | Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
7. REPORTS
The following agenda items are reports. They are placed on the Agenda to provide information
to the Board and the public. There is no action called for in these items.

A. GENERAL MANAGER REPORT
B. ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER REPORT
C. COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE REPORTS
D. DIRECTORS’ REPORTS AND REQUESTS
8. NEXT MEETING
A. Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
9. ADJOURNMENT

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE
COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
MEETING OF THE WHOLE
OF JULY 28, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
Director Rizvi called the Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting to
order at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in the Western Municipal Water District
Training Room, 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside, California.
2. ROLL CALL
Roll call of the Board of Directors was taken by Assistant Board Secretary Candice
Haro. The following Board members were in attendance:
Director’s Present
Director Laura Roughton
Director Fauzia Rizvi
Director Mike Gardner
Director Laura Roughton arrived at 9:35 a.m.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Members of the public may address the Committee regarding any item within the subject matter
jurisdiction of the Committee; however, no action may be taken on off‐agenda items unless
authorized by law. Comments shall be limited to matters not listed on the agenda. Members of
the public may comment on any matter listed on the agenda at the time that the Committee
considers that matter. Each individual’s comment is limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes;
however, the Presiding Officer reserves the right to reduce the amount of time each individual
can speak in order to ensure all members of the public have an opportunity to comment.

None.

Western Water | The Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
4. CONSENT
Consent Calendar items are expected to be routine and non‐controversial and are to be acted
upon by the Committee by one motion, without discussion. If any Committee member, staff
member, or interested person requests that an item be removed from the Consent Calendar for
further discussion, it will be moved to the first item on the Action Agenda.

A. Approve the Minutes of the June 23, 2026, Community and Government
Affairs Committee Meeting
Committee members approved the minutes of the June 23, 2026, Community and
Government Affairs Committee Meeting, with no changes.
5. ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA
(If any) In accordance with Section 54954.2 of the Government Code, upon determination by a
two‐thirds vote of the legislative body, or, if less than two‐thirds of the members are present, a
unanimous vote of those members present that there is a need to take action, and the need to
take action arose after the agenda was posted.

None.
6. RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE MADE TO THE FULL BOARD
The following items on the Agenda call for discussion and action by the Committee. All items are
placed on the Agenda so that the Committee may discuss and take action on the item, if the
Committee is so inclined.

A. Receive and File the July 2026 Government Affairs and Legislative Update
This item was presented by: Michael Hadley, Government Affairs Officer II and Ed
Manning, KP Public Affairs
Committee Recommendation: Forward Item 6A to the full Board of Directors for
consideration.
B. Receive and File a Staff Analysis of California Assembly Bill 2619
This item was presented by: Michael Hadley, Government Affairs Officer II
Committee Recommendation: Forward Item 6B to the full Board of Directors for
consideration.

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Western Water | The Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
C. Adopt a Resolution Supporting the Association of California Water Agencies’
Vision for Our Water Future
This item was presented by: Michael Hadley, Government Affairs Officer II and
Michael Cervantes, Senior Regional Affairs Representative at ACWA
Committee Recommendation: Forward Item 6C to the full Board of Directors for
consideration.
D. Authorize Execution of a Professional Services Contract with E Source
Companies for Regional Water Loss Technical Support Services
This item was presented by: Michelle Adams, Customer Experience Manager
Committee Recommendation: Forward Item 6D to the full Board of Directors for
consideration.
E. Approve the Write-Off of Accounts Receivable Deemed Uncollectible
This item was presented by: Riley King, Customer Service Supervisor
Committee Recommendation: Forward Item 6E to the full Board of Directors for
consideration.
7. REPORTS
The following agenda items are reports. They are placed on the Agenda to provide information
to the Board and the public. There is no action called for in these items

A. GENERAL MANAGER REPORT
1. Teen Internship for Development and Experience Series (TIDES) Program
General Manager Craig Miller introduced Bianca King, Human Resources
Manager, who presented the 2026 inaugural class of the TIDES program which
consisted of eight (8) high school students who began their internship with
Western Water in July 2026. Students interning were either on the Operations
or Administration track in this three-week program, allowing them to select a
department in which to spend their last week. Craig Miller reminded the
Committee that this pilot program was created with the hopes of contributing to
the workforce in water.

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Western Water | The Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
2. California Association of Sanitation Agencies’ (CASA) Election of Directors
General Manager Craig Miller informed the Committee that voting will take place
at CASA’s 2026 Annual Conference next month, and a “yes” or “no” vote for the
slate can be submitted at that time. It was agreed that Director Rizvi will place
the vote on the District’s behalf.
B. ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER REPORT
General Manager Sarah Macdonald advised that the pilot program launched last
year for the University of California Riverside’s Randall Lewis Policy Fellowship was
a success and Western Water will continue to participate in the program. The
Fellowship is focused on preparing the next generation of policy leaders by pairing
graduate students with governments, agencies, and non-profit organizations for
seven months, allowing them to apply their academic training and contribute fresh
perspectives, research skills and policy insights. This partnership prepares students
for real-world challenges, leadership roles and strengthens the region’s civic and
policy infrastructure.
Additionally, Sarah Macdonald informed the Committee of Western Water’s plans
to co-host a Metropolitan Water District inspection trip that has been set for January
22, 2027, at the Weymouth Treatment Plant, with Eastern Municipal Water District.
A second, 3-day inspection trip of the State Water Project has been planned as
well, and will be held from Wednesday April 28, 2027, to Friday, April 30, 2027, with
Western Water and the Municipal Water District of Orange County as co-hosts.
Lastly, she revealed that Western Water has submitted two panel proposals for the
Association of California Water Agencies’ fall 2026 conference, updates to the
Committee will be provided as they become available.
C. COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE REPORT
1. Grants Communication Project Update
Lauren Deaderick, Director of Communications and Customer Experience,
provided the Committee with an overview of the project they are working on
with Water Resources for regular grant updates on the lobby entryway screen
and social media posts.

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Western Water | The Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
D. DIRECTORS REPORTS AND REQUESTS
Comments were made by Director Gardner.
8. NEXT MEETING
A. Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Committee, Director Rizvi adjourned the
meeting at 10:54 a.m.

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Agenda Item: 6A
Date: August 25, 2026
TO: THE COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Director Laura Roughton, Committee Member
Director Fauzia Rizvi, Committee Member
FROM: Sarah Macdonald, Assistant General Manager

RECEIVE AND FILE THE AUGUST 2026 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff requests that the Community and Government Affairs Committee recommend the
Board of Directors:
1. Receive and file the August 2026 Government Affairs and Legislative Update.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At each meeting of the Community and Government Affairs Committee, Western
Municipal Water District staff provides a verbal report. The report is sometimes
accompanied by materials prepared by The Ferguson Group and KP Public Affairs and
includes a high-level overview of relevant topics from both federal and state government
to be discussed in more depth during the meeting.
BUDGET IMPACT:
This action has no budget impact.

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Western Water | Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
Agenda Item: 6A
DETAIL:
Federal Updates
Legislative Calendar
•

Both federal legislative houses in district (Summer Recess): August 10 – 28

•

House in Washington D.C., Senate in district: August 31 – September 3

•

Both federal legislative houses in district (Labor Day): September 7 – 11

•

Both federal legislative houses in Washington, D.C.: September 14 – October 2

•

Both federal legislative houses in district (elections): October 5 – November 6

Interim Colorado River Agreements Announced through 2028
•

Federal officials have agreed with an offer made earlier this year by California,
Arizona, and Nevada to reduce what they take from the river by at least 3.2 million
acre-feet between now and the end of 2028
o Under the plan, California will cut its use of Colorado River water by about
12%, Arizona will take about 31% less, and Nevada 28% less
o Lower basin states will receive $350 million, and upper basin states will
receive $100 million in funding assistance from the federal government

•

Updates on the status of the agreement to be discussed during the August
Community and Government Affairs Committee meeting

Continuing Resolution Needed to Fund the Federal Government Past September
30
•

The House passed a Continuing Resolution in late July before the August recess
to fund the government through December 4
o Talks in the Senate are gridlocked over a push to increase defense
spending by roughly 50%, to $1.5 trillion, alongside flat funding or cuts to
domestic funding

•

If broader talks collapse, House Republicans are eyeing a third party-line budget
reconciliation bill

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Western Water | Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
Agenda Item: 6A
House Clears Budget Reconciliation Blueprint for $95 Billion Package
•

The House narrowly adopted a budget framework in July, the first step toward
using budget reconciliation to bypass a Senate filibuster and pass a $95 billion
package for the military, intelligence programs, farm aid, and election security

•

The measure now heads to the Senate, where it must pass an identical framework
before drafting can begin

•

This is important because if a budget reconciliation bill is passed, funding priorities
of the current Congress and Administration can be funded without the 60-vote
threshold in the Senate, and can de-prioritize the immediate need to pass a
Continuing Resolution or the FY 2027 budget

Bipartisan Bill Would Overhaul Clean Water Fund Formula for High-Growth States
•

Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced S. 5016 to replace
the decades-old formula used to distribute Clean Water State Revolving Fund
grants, arguing it fails to account for population growth in more than 30 states since
it was last set in 1987
o The bill would base allotments on the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s clean watershed needs survey, a state's population, and its share
of residents near the poverty line, with built-in limits during a four-year
transition, so no state's funding shifts too abruptly

•

The senators are expected to offer the bill as an amendment when the Water
Resources Development Act (WRDA) reaches the Senate floor, setting up a fight
likely to split lawmakers along regional rather than partisan lines

Bipartisan Bill Targets California's Use of Clean Water Act Permitting Power
•

Representatives Adam Gray (D-CA) and David Rouzer (R-NC) have introduced
H.R. 9855, the CURRENT Act, bipartisan legislation to reform Section 401 of the
Clean Water Act, which requires states to certify that federally permitted projects
meet water quality standards
o The bill would limit states' ability to impose conditions unrelated to water
quality, establish firm review timelines, and streamline judicial review for
energy, hydropower, transmission, and carbon dioxide infrastructure
projects

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Western Water | Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
Agenda Item: 6A
o Rep. Gray said California has used the Section 401 process to hold up
permits for Central Valley water and energy projects, creating uncertainty
for farmers and water districts
•

The bill drew support from Central Valley irrigation districts, including Merced,
Turlock, and Modesto, which argued the certification process has expanded
beyond its original scope and added costs and delays to hydropower relicensing

State Updates
Legislative Calendar
•

All Bills to Governor’s Desk: August 31

•

Governor’s Signature or Veto: September 30

•

General Election: November 3

•

Ceremonial Convening of 2027-28 Session: December 7

•

2027 Legislative Session Begins: January 4

Updates to 2026 Bills of Interest
•

Assembly Bill (AB) 1881 (Ramos): California Indian Freedom Act of 2026

•

AB 1894 (Rubio): Fish and wildlife: invasive mussels: imported water

•

AB 2180 (Ward): Proposition 218: Proportional cost of service

•

AB 2218 (Kalra): Water policy: California Native American tribes

•

AB 2568 (Johnson): Water district directors: compensation

•

AB 2619 (Papan): Water resources: data centers

•

AB 2739 (Soria): Water Affordability and System Stabilization Fund

•

Senate Bill (SB) 601 (Allen): Water: waste discharge

•

SB 872 (McNerney): Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund

•

SB 1125 (Menjivar): Water rate assistance program

•

SB 1153 (Caballero): Disaster preparedness: wildfire

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Western Water | Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
Agenda Item: 6A
Department of Water Resources (DWR) Submits Revised Certification of
Consistency for the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) to the Delta Stewardship
Council
•

The revised certification covered two outstanding items that were remanded to
DWR to address, which included
o How to avoid or mitigate the potential for DCP facilities to improve habitat
conditions for the nonnative invasive golden mussel; and
o How to avoid or reduce conflicts between the siting of the DCP’s Twin Cities
Complex and Sac Sewer’s Harvest Water when feasible

•

Next steps for this will be discussed during the August Community and
Government Affairs Committee

Cadiz Project Receives Federal Clearance to Move Forward
•

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has cleared Cadiz Inc.’s plan to repurpose
roughly 162 miles of existing pipeline to move groundwater from the Mojave Desert
o The federal finding reportedly concluded the pipeline conversion would not
have a significant environmental effect, which Cadiz has characterized as a
major step toward construction

•

California requires additional scientific review and State Lands Commission
approval before the project can take Mojave groundwater and sell it

REASON FOR ACTION:
To ensure members of the Board of Directors are informed of the latest updates on state
and federal legislative and regulatory issues.
SOLUTION:
Receive and file the August 2026 Government Affairs and Legislative Update.
WESTERN WATER’S ASPIRATIONS REFERENCE:
This item aligns with Western Water’s 2036 Aspiration of Excellence in Industry
Leadership.

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Western Water | Community and Government Affairs Committee Meeting
August 25, 2026
Agenda Item: 6A

LEGAL COUNSEL REVIEW:
Staff has determined that legal review of this item is not necessary.
PROPOSED DATE OF ACTION:
If approved by the Committee, this item is scheduled for consideration by the full Board
of Directors at their meeting on September 16, 2026, or at a subsequent meeting, if
necessary.
Respectfully submitted by:
Sarah Macdonald, Assistant General Manager
Attachments:
1. Federal Affairs Report from The Ferguson Group – August 2026
2. Priority Bill Report from KP Public Affairs – August 2026

Western Water | 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside | 951.571.7100 | WesternWaterCA.gov

Attachment 1

Western Municipal Water District
Federal Affairs Report – August 2026
Senate Advances Their Own Stopgap CR, Sends It to House
The Senate passed their version of a short-term continuing resolution (CR) funding bill 90-6 to keep the government
running through December 11, avoiding a shutdown when the fiscal year ends October 1. The bill now goes to the
House, which passed a different version; both chambers must reconcile those differences before the October 1
deadline.
The Senate CR blocks a White House plan to let political appointees control grant approvals and stops Border Patrol
and ICE from gaining new funding through loopholes, both Democratic priorities. It leaves out things President
Trump had sought, including Iran war emergency funds and new voter ID rules, which GOP leaders said lacked the
votes to pass.
Leaders on both sides of the aisle framed the bill positively: Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) called it strong
bipartisan legislation, Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) said it averts harm to federal workers, and
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said it buys time for further budget talks. With midterms approaching,
Democrats appear uninterested in forcing another shutdown fight, especially after mixed results in past standoffs.
The House returns August 31 to take up the bill. Conservative GOP hardliners object to several provisions the Senate
added to secure Democratic votes. Some House Republicans also object to language blocking funding for ICE and
Border Patrol, though GOP leadership plans to argue those agencies already have sufficient funds to operate through
the rest of Trump's term.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) may need Democratic votes to pass the bill, and while most House Democrats
are expected to support it, a few (following the lead of senators like Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who opposed added
Pentagon funding tied to the Iran conflict) could break ranks. The Senate version represents a shift from the more
partisan, flat-funding bill House Republicans passed last month, instead incorporating White House-requested
changes along with trade extensions for Haiti and sub-Saharan Africa and continuations of cybersecurity and
transportation authorities.
Senate Punts on House Passed Budget Reconciliation 3.0 Blueprint – Promises Improved Version in September
The Senate has delayed voting on the House GOP's $95 billion budget reconciliation blueprint until senators return
September 14, opting to draft a stronger version rather than advance the House-passed framework before the August
recess. Senate Budget Chair Ron Johnson (R-WI) announced the delay after meeting with Majority Leader John
Thune (R-SD) and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rick Scott (R-FL), saying the group consulted President Trump,
who backs holding out for an improved resolution.
Though Johnson had floated revisions to the House's original $95 billion package (H.Con.Res. 113) which passed
narrowly on a 216-214 vote to fund the military, intelligence programs, farm aid, and election security he concluded
even that revision fell short of what Trump and Senate Republicans want. The Senate must still pass an identical
framework before drafting can begin, and GOP leaders face competing demands from farm-state senators and defense
hawks seeking more funding versus fiscal hawks wanting spending offsets, with any Senate changes requiring another
uncertain House vote. Democrats, meanwhile, have criticized the package for funding military spending tied to the
Iran conflict while doing little to address the cost of living.

TheFergusonGroup.com • 1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW • Suite 700 • Washington, DC 20006 • 202.331.8500

Bipartisan Permitting Deal Nears Completion, Won't Surface Until September
Senators negotiating a bipartisan permitting overhaul say they're closing in on a deal, though it won't go public until
after the August recess. Lead negotiators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Lee (RUT), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) met August 4 and left optimistic, though Whitehouse acknowledged a "bunch" of
issues remain, especially streamlining Clean Water Act (CWA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
reviews, which Heinrich called some of the toughest sticking points.
Whitehouse and Heinrich both flagged the White House as the biggest obstacle, citing concerns the Administration
treats permitting laws as discretionary pointing to delayed or canceled wind projects, a $1.2 billion buyout of RWE's
offshore wind leases, and a court order forcing the Pentagon to restart stalled wind reviews. Republicans counter with
Democrats' own record, citing Biden's 2021 revocation of the Keystone XL permit.
Even with a deal, quick passage is uncertain given limited legislative days before the midterms and likely House
negotiations. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) floated pairing permitting language with the Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA), and Whitehouse said Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has options to move a bill
once one is reached.
Lake Mead Falls to Record Low, More Declines Expected
Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir, hit its lowest water level in roughly 90 years, reaching 1,040.4 feet above
sea level, just below the prior record set in July 2022. The drop reflects the deepening Colorado River crisis, which
affects about 40 million people across seven states, tribal nations, and Mexico.
J.B. Hamby, chair of the Colorado River Board of California, called the decline "extremely significant and extremely
concerning," noting roughly 30 million people are directly affected, and urged further water-use cuts.
Years of overuse, drought, and rising temperatures compounded by the worst snowpack on record this past winter
have pushed both Lake Mead and Lake Powell to their lowest levels in nearly 70 years. Federal officials said
Thursday they won't release cool Lake Powell water to protect a threatened fish species below Glen Canyon Dam,
prioritizing hydropower instead. Separately, after basin states failed to reach a long-term sharing agreement, federal
officials are proposing short-term cuts for Arizona, California, and Nevada, with room for deeper reductions in future
dry periods.
EPA Issues Guidance on Biosolids and PFAS
On July 1, EPA released draft guidance addressing risks associated with PFOA and PFOS in biosolids generated by
wastewater treatment facilities. The guidance is voluntary and does not establish regulatory limits, but it recommends
monitoring, source control, industrial pretreatment efforts, and other risk-reduction measures. EPA’s 60 day public
comment period runs through September 4, 2026.
Senate WRDA Increases SRF Eligibility for PFAS Projects
The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee approved its version of the Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA) 2026 (S. 4949) on July 15. Among other provisions, both the Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs' eligibility criteria were
expanded to include funding for PFAS contamination projects. If included in the final bill, this provision would
potentially increase funding opportunities for projects related to controlling or treating PFAS. However, it could also
be a problematic provision as the authorization does not include any additional funding, thus possibly shrinking the
funding available for other SRF projects. The final say on that question would still be the purview of the
appropriations committees.
Both the House and Senate versions of WRDA await floor consideration. Given the historically bipartisan nature of
WRDA, we would expect differences to be worked out, and a final bill passed both chambers this year, though the
final version is not likely to pass until sometime during the “Lame Duck” session after the midterm elections. The
prospects for the SRF PFAS provision remaining in the final version are currently unclear. TFG will continue to
monitor WRDA legislation and these relevant provisions.

Page 2

Water Utility Cyberattacks Reignite Push for Cybersecurity Standards
Coordinated cyberattacks on at least 30 water and wastewater utilities across 12 states, some linked to Iranian actors,
have renewed debate over mandatory federal cybersecurity standards for the sector. Hackers exploited well-known,
easily fixable vulnerabilities; in Braham, Minnesota, they briefly shut down a water treatment plant's control system,
and Michigan officials reported attempted tampering elsewhere. No major safety issues have been confirmed, though
some utilities issued precautionary boil-water notices.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has warned of a "significant increase" in cyberattacks
targeting U.S. water utilities. The alert, backed by the FBI and EPA, flagged hackers targeting the industrial
controllers that run water treatment plants.
Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Water Cyber Shield Act of 2026, giving
EPA authority to identify vulnerabilities, require fixes, and mandate cybersecurity evaluations for large utilities
reviving a Biden-era effort that failed three years ago. Republican support remains uncertain: EPW Chair Shelley
Moore Capito (R-WV) called the cyberattacks "frightening" but favors more funding and training over new mandates.
An industry-backed alternative, Rep. Rick Crawford's (R-AR) Water Risk and Resilience Organization Establishment
Act, would create an independent body to set standards collaboratively, exempting the smallest utilities. Critics warn
this could produce standards shaped by affordability rather than actual threats. Meanwhile, the wastewater sector's
largest trade group opposes new regulation entirely, and voluntary information-sharing participation remains under
1% of the roughly 150,000 water systems nationwide even as federal cybersecurity funding and staffing have been
cut.
Interior Finalizes Colorado River Operating Framework Through 2036
The Bureau of Reclamation has released its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), setting a framework for
managing Lake Powell and Lake Mead through 2036. Instead of fixed long-term rules, Interior will issue operating
guidelines roughly every two years within set thresholds, with annual Powell releases between 5.0 and 12.0 million
acre-feet, Lower Basin shortages up to 3.0 million acre-feet, and voluntary Upper Basin conservation up to 200,000
acre-feet, giving officials room to adapt as conditions change. The move comes as combined Powell-Mead storage sits
at its lowest since before Glen Canyon Dam began filling in 1963.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the plan balance’s reliability with flexibility for the 40 million people who
depend on the river. Still ahead is the harder fight: a detailed two-year operating plan due within a few weeks
specifying which states absorb cuts. Arizona, California and Nevada have proposed jointly conserving 3.2 million
acre-feet over two years, but Arizona would take the largest mandatory reductions given its junior water rights, a plan
AZ Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) has called "draconian." California's negotiator wants the Upper Basin states to share in cuts
too, but Interior's authority to compel them is unclear. Litigation over the plan remains an option the states are
considering.
Trump ESA Habitat Rule Faces Lawsuit and Bipartisan Pushback in Congress
The Trump Administration's overhaul of endangered species protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is
drawing fire on two fronts. Earthjustice, representing groups including the Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife, has
sued the Interior Department over a finalized rule that requires regulators to consider excluding areas from critical
habitat designations whenever "credible information" suggests meaningful financial impacts.
The groups argue the rule hands industry an effective veto over habitat protections by presuming economic-cost
claims valid unless the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) can affirmatively rebut them, a reversal of the agency's past
practice of dismissing unsupported cost claims. They also allege the rule strips FWS of discretion over whether to
conduct exclusion analyses at all and that Interior skipped required environmental review under NEPA. Interior has
defended the rule as adding clarity and transparency; a nearly identical version was finalized in 2020 and then
rescinded in 2022 amid litigation, with FWS at the time calling it "problematic" for undermining the agency's expert
judgment.

Page 3

Separately, a bipartisan pair of House members, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Mike Quigley (D-IL), introduced
the Safeguarding Endangered Species Act (H.R. 9901) to nullify a different Administration ESA rule finalized this
month that redefines "harm" under the Act to exclude habitat destruction. Rep. Fitzpatrick called the change a break
from a fifty-year legal understanding that destroying habitat can itself constitute harm to protected species.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has defended the Administration's broader ESA changes, saying agencies have
previously used the law to obstruct legitimate land use. The push for legislative pushback isn't limited to Democrats
and moderate Republicans, as a separate more sweeping ESA overhaul from Natural Resources Committee Chair
Bruce Westerman (R-AR) has stalled this year over concerns from some Florida Republicans about offshore drilling.
Tribes, Environmentalists Sue to Block Mojave Groundwater Project
Environmental and tribal groups have filed two lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration's approval of a permit
for a controversial groundwater pumping project in the Mojave Desert. One suit came from the Chemehuevi Indian
Tribe, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Native American Land Conservancy and National Parks Conservation Association;
the other from the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and Earthjustice. Both suits challenge the Bureau
of Land Management's (BLM’s) decision this month to let Fenner Gap Mutual Water Co. convert an existing natural
gas pipeline into a water pipeline, arguing BLM failed to adequately study the project's environmental and cultural
impacts.
The project is the latest chapter in Cadiz Inc.'s decades-long push to pump and export water from the desert, long
opposed by environmentalists, tribes and state officials over harm to the fragile ecosystem. A similar approval under
the first Trump Administration was later overturned in court.
Cadiz is pressing ahead anyway, announcing that it has locked in contractors and a roughly $403 million construction
budget, and applied for up to $194 million in EPA financing that hasn't yet been approved. The project still faces state
hurdles, including California's State Lands Commission, which has declined to grant a key permit.
Record Heat, Drought Force Routine Fishing Closures Across Western Rivers
Record heat and drought have pushed Western river temperatures to levels lethal for cold water fisheries, such as
trout, prompting wide scale fishing closures. Colorado has restricted 19 rivers totaling 635.5 miles this summer,
calling it unprecedented, while Montana expanded afternoon restrictions to 1,200 miles of rivers and Yellowstone
extended closures parkwide. A Montana fisheries official said such closures have become "very routine" in recent
summers; Yellowstone alone has restricted fishing in five of the past six years, far more than in the past.
Lower water levels heat rivers faster, and warm water holds less oxygen, stressing trout even during brief catch-andrelease handling. Reservoirs that normally buffer dry years are near record lows, and a major fish die-off on
Colorado's Yampa River has been raised as a warning sign.
New Bipartisan Caucus Aims to Elevate Weather Forecasting on Capitol Hill
Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL) have launched the Weather Enterprise Caucus to educate
lawmakers on the value of the nation's weather forecasting and disaster preparedness infrastructure. Flood said the
idea grew out of last year's DOGE-driven staffing cuts at the National Weather Service, which exposed forecasting
gaps and drew bipartisan pushback.
The Trump Administration seems supportive: the launch event featured NOAA's Taylor Jordan and NWS Director
Ken Graham, who called it a "huge opportunity." Flood said he's already discussing forecasting legislation with House
Science Chair Brian Babin (R-TX), including bills like the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act, that are
awaiting floor votes alongside similar House- and Senate-passed reauthorization measures.
Sen. McCormick Positioned for ENR Committee Gavel After Sen. Graham's Death Sets Off Chain Reaction
First-term Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) is positioned to chair the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR)
Committee next Congress, a rise triggered by the sudden death of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Current
Chair Mike Lee (R-UT) is expected to take the Judiciary gavel left open by Graham’s passing instead, and other more
senior Republicans on the committee are either ineligible or uninterested in the post.

Page 4

McCormick would be the first East Coast Republican to lead the committee in decades, likely focusing more on
energy than public lands. He's built his profile around Pennsylvania's natural gas industry as an answer to AI-driven
power demand, hosting a Pittsburgh energy summit this summer with President Trump and Gov. Josh Shapiro (DPA), and has cultivated close White House ties.
Seen as more pragmatic than Chairman Lee, Sen. McCormick has co-sponsored bipartisan transmission-permitting
legislation as well as his own broader permitting bill reflecting core GOP priorities, suggesting he'd keep pushing
permitting talks forward next year if current negotiators fall short.
Bipartisan Bill Would Overhaul Clean Water Fund Formula for High-Growth States
Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) have introduced legislation to replace the decades-old formula used
to distribute Clean Water State Revolving Fund grants, arguing it fails to account for population growth in more than
30 states since it was last set in 1987. The bill, S. 5016, would base allotments on EPA's clean watershed needs
survey, a state's population, and its share of residents near the poverty line, with built-in limits during a four-year
transition so no state's funding shifts too abruptly.
The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously advanced a broader Water Resources
Development Act reauthorization on July 15, which would boost authorized CWSRF funding to $3.5 billion and
drinking water SRF funding as high as $4.5 billion by FY 2030, both well above the Trump Administration's much
lower funding requests.
Florida's share would roughly double, from 3.43 to about 6.16 percent, while Arizona could see an increase of more
than 200 percent. States including Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania would see their shares shrink.
The senators are expected to offer the bill as an amendment when WRDA reaches the Senate floor, setting up a fight
likely to split lawmakers along regional rather than partisan lines.
Bipartisan Bill Targets California's Use of Clean Water Act Permitting Power
Reps. Adam Gray (D-CA) and David Rouzer (R-NC) have introduced the CURRENT Act, bipartisan legislation
aimed at reforming Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, which requires states to certify that federally permitted
projects meet water quality standards. The bill would limit states' ability to impose conditions unrelated to water
quality, establish firm review timelines, and streamline judicial review for energy, hydropower, transmission, and
carbon dioxide infrastructure projects.
Gray said California has used the Section 401 process to hold up permits for Central Valley water and energy projects,
creating uncertainty for farmers and water districts. Rouzer framed the bill as building on the earlier PERMIT Act by
tightening Section 401 procedures without weakening water quality protections.
The bill drew support from Central Valley irrigation districts, including Merced, Turlock, and Modesto, which argued
the certification process has expanded beyond its original scope and added costs and delays to hydropower
relicensing. It also won backing from pipeline company Williams and the National Hydropower Association, both of
which framed Section 401 reform as a key piece of any broader permitting overhaul needed to meet rising energy
demand.

As always, it is a pleasure serving the Western Municipal Water District. If this report brings rise to any questions,
please contact Mark Limbaugh at (202) 286-8887 or Christopher Kearney at (202) 549-1583.

Page 5

Attachment 2
Western Municipal Water District
Priority Bill List as of 8/14/2026
AB 1772

(Papan D) Fish and wildlife: invasive species: invasive mussels.
Current Text: Amended: 6/25/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/9/2026
Last Amend: 6/25/2026
Status: 8/13/2026-In committee: Held under submission.
Location: 8/3/2026-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed
Conc.
1st House
2nd House

Chaptered

Summary: Existing law, until January 1, 2030, generally prohibits a person from possessing, importing,
shipping, or transporting in the state, or from placing, planting, or causing to be placed or planted in
any water in the state, invasive mussels, and authorizes the Director of Fish and Wildlife or the
director’s designee to engage in various enforcement activities, including ordering the areas in
conveyance that contain water be drained, dried, or decontaminated, as provided. Existing law
requires a public or private agency that operates a water supply system to cooperate with the
Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement measures to avoid infestation by invasive mussels and to
control or eradicate any infestation that may occur in a water supply system. Existing law requires, if
invasive mussels are detected, the operator of a water supply system to, in cooperation with the
department, prepare and implement a plan to control or eradicate invasive mussels within the system,
and eliminate or minimize any potential downstream transport of an invasive mussel. Existing law
requires, on or before December 31, 2026, the department to review all approved plans and require all
plans that do not specifically address all invasive mussel species known to be present in bodies of
water in the state as of January 1, 2026, to be updated or revised appropriately to include all invasive
mussel species, on or before September 30, 2027. Existing law requires every invasive mussel species
to be addressed in a plan no later than 180 days from the date that the species is listed in a certain
regulation. Existing law defines “invasive mussel” for these purposes as any nonnative detrimental
mussel, as provided. This bill would prohibit a conveyance from being launched until a specified drying
period has completed, as provided. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a statemandated local program. The bill would require the department to require water supply system
operators to update their plans to address all invasive mussel species present in the operator’s water
system as of January 1, 2026, as provided.
Position
Notes 1: ACWA - SUPPORT IF AMENDED
AB 1881

(Ramos D) California Indian Freedom Act of 2026.
Current Text: Amended: 8/3/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/12/2026
Last Amend: 8/3/2026
Status: 8/13/2026-From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 13). Read second time.
Ordered to third reading.
Location: 8/13/2026-S. THIRD READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed
Conc.
1st House
2nd House

Chaptered

Calendar: 8/17/2026 #578 SENATE ASSEMBLY BILLS - THIRD READING FILE
Summary: Existing law establishes various protections for California Native American tribes, including
prohibiting a public agency or private party using or occupying public property or operating on public
property from interfering with the free expression or exercise of Native American religion as provided in
the United States Constitution and the California Constitution. Existing law also requires a local
government to provide formal notification to each California Native American tribe that is traditionally
and culturally affiliated with the project site as an invitation to consult on the proposed project, as
provided. Existing law requires the local government, during the consultation, to give deference to the
tribal information, tribal knowledge and customs, and the significance of the resource to the California
Native American tribe. Existing law prohibits any information, as described, that is submitted by a
California Native American tribe during the environmental review process from being included in the
environmental document or otherwise disclosed by the lead agency or any other public agency to the
public, as specified, without the prior consent of the tribe that provided the information. This bill, the
California Indian Freedom Act of 2026, would prohibit a governmental agency from substantially
burdening a California Indian or California Native American tribe’s exercise of religious beliefs or
spiritual practices on state lands, including their access to and use of sacred sites and objects, and
their ability to perform religious ceremonies and rites, even if the burden results from a rule of general
applicability, unless the governmental agency demonstrates that application of the burden is in
furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is in the least restrictive means of furthering
that interest. The bill would authorize a California Indian or tribe to assert a violation of these

Page 1/7

provisions as a claim or defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding, as specified. The bill would
require a governmental agency to allow California Indians access to sacred sites on state lands, as
specified.
Position
OPPOSE Unless
Amended
Notes 1: ACWA - OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED
CMUA - OPPOSE
AB 2026

(Aguiar-Curry D) Water diversion: groundwater recharge: permit.
Current Text: Amended: 7/2/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/17/2026
Last Amend: 7/2/2026
Status: 8/13/2026-In committee: Held under submission.
Location: 8/3/2026-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Summary: Existing law declares that all water within the state is the property of the people of the
state, but the right to the use of the water may be acquired by appropriation in the manner provided
by law. Existing law requires the appropriation to be for some useful or beneficial purpose. Existing law
provides, however, that the diversion of floodflows for groundwater recharge does not require an
appropriative water right if certain conditions are met, including that a local or regional agency that
has adopted a local plan of flood control or has considered flood risks as part of its most recently
adopted general plan has given notice, as provided, of imminent risk of flooding and inundation of
lands, roads, or structures. Existing law defines “floodflow” for these purposes to include
circumstances in which flows would inundate ordinarily dry areas in the bed of a terminal lake to a
depth that floods dairies and other ongoing agricultural activities, or areas with substantial residential,
commercial, or industrial development. Existing law applies those requirements to diversions
commenced before January 1, 2029. Existing law prohibits an entity from substantially diverting or
obstructing the natural flow of, or substantially changing or using any material from the bed, channel,
or bank of, any river, stream, or lake, or from depositing or disposing of certain material where it may
pass into any river, stream, or lake, without first notifying the Department of Fish and Wildlife of that
activity, and entering into a lake or streambed alteration agreement if required by the department to
protect fish and wildlife resources, except as specified. This bill would revise and recast those
conditions required for the appropriative water right exemption for a diversion of floodflows for
groundwater recharge, would apply the requirements to a diversion commenced before January 1,
2034, and would further exempt those diversions from the requirements of CEQA and requirements
relating to lake or streambed alteration agreements, subject to conducting tribal consultation, as
provided.
Position
Notes 1: ACWA - SUPPORT/AMEND

AB 2032

(Ransom D) Fish and wildlife: golden mussels.
Current Text: Amended: 6/11/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/17/2026
Last Amend: 6/11/2026
Status: 8/13/2026-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
Location: 8/13/2026-S. SECOND READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Calendar: 8/17/2026 #98 SENATE ASSEMBLY BILLS - SECOND READING FILE
Summary: Existing law, until January 1, 2030, generally prohibits a person from possessing, importing,
shipping, or transporting in the state, or from placing, planting, or causing to be placed or planted in
any water within the state, invasive mussels, as defined. Existing law requires a public or private
agency that operates a water supply system to cooperate with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to
implement measures to avoid infestation by invasive mussels and to control or eradicate any
infestation that may occur in a water supply system, and, if invasive mussels are detected, to prepare
and implement a plan, as specified, to control or eradicate invasive mussels within the system (control
plan). Existing law prohibits the importation, transportation, possession, or live release of specified
wild animals, except under a revocable, nontransferable permit, known as a restricted species permit,
issued by the department, in cooperation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, and only if
certain requirements are met. Existing law authorizes the department to issue permits, commonly
known as scientific collecting permits, to take or possess any form of plant or animal life for scientific,
educational, or propagation purposes. This bill would exempt from the requirement to obtain a

Page 2/7

restricted species permit for golden mussels a public or private agency that operates a water supply
system and has submitted a control plan to the department for maintenance and operational activities
in the water supply system, as specified.
Position

AB 2180

(Ward D) Local government: Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act: proportional cost of
service.
Current Text: Amended: 5/22/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/19/2026
Last Amend: 5/22/2026
Status: 6/11/2026-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 6/11/2026-S. THIRD READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Calendar: 8/17/2026 #255 SENATE ASSEMBLY BILLS - THIRD READING FILE
Summary: The California Constitution specifies various requirements with respect to the levying of
assessments and property-related fees and charges by a local agency. As part of those requirements,
the California Constitution mandates that such fees or charges that are extended, imposed, or
increased satisfy certain requirements, including, but not limited to, that the amount of the fee or
charge imposed upon any parcel or person as an incident of property ownership not exceed the
proportional cost of the service attributable to the parcel. Existing law, known as the Proposition 218
Omnibus Implementation Act (act), prescribes specific procedures and parameters for local jurisdictions
to comply with these requirements and, among other things, authorizes an agency providing water,
wastewater, sewer, or refuse collection services to adopt a schedule of fees or charges authorizing
automatic adjustments that pass through increases in wholesale charges for water, sewage
treatment, or wastewater treatment or adjustments for inflation under certain circumstances. This bill
would authorize a local government to demonstrate the proportional cost of the service attributable to
the parcel by any method that reasonably allocates the ascertainable cost of providing service to all
parcels, if substantiated as provided. The bill would, however, provide that for water or sewer service
fee or charge impositions, a local government is not required to provide an exact measure of the cost
of the service at each parcel and may instead impose uniform or tiered rates to parcel or customer
classes that are defined based on common characteristics indicative of likely water or sewer use.
Position
Notes 1: ACWA - SUPPORT/SPONSOR
CMUA - SUPPORT

AB 2218

(Kalra D) Water policy: California Native American tribes.
Current Text: Amended: 7/2/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/19/2026
Last Amend: 7/2/2026
Status: 8/13/2026-From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (August 13). Read second time.
Ordered to third reading.
Location: 8/13/2026-S. THIRD READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Calendar: 8/17/2026 #629 SENATE ASSEMBLY BILLS - THIRD READING FILE
Summary: Would require the state government to support California Native Americans to maintain
cultural and linguistic traditions, practice ecosystem stewardship, and engage in good faith
government-to-government consultations with all California Native American tribes regarding policies
that may affect tribal communities.
Position
OPPOSE
Notes 1: ACWA - OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED
CMUA - OPPOSE

AB 2568

(Johnson R) Water district directors: compensation.
Current Text: Amended: 4/27/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/20/2026
Last Amend: 4/27/2026
Status: 6/18/2026-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 6/18/2026-S. THIRD READING

Page 3/7

Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Calendar: 8/17/2026 #268 SENATE ASSEMBLY BILLS - THIRD READING FILE
Summary: Existing law authorizes a water district, as defined, to adopt an ordinance that provides
compensation to members of the governing board, as specified. Existing law prohibits a water district
from adopting an ordinance that compensates members of the governing board for more than a total
of 10 days in any calendar month. This bill would, until January 1, 2032, authorize a water district that
has at least 90,000 residents within its jurisdiction to adopt an ordinance that compensates members
of the governing board for up to a total of 15 days in any calendar month, but would require the
members of the governing board of a water district that compensates its members for more than 10
days in a calendar month to annually adopt a written policy describing, based on a finding supported
by substantial evidence, why providing compensation for more than 10 days per calendar month is
necessary for the effective operation of the water district.
Position

AB 2619

(Papan D) Water resources: data centers.
Current Text: Amended: 7/2/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/20/2026
Last Amend: 7/2/2026
Status: 8/13/2026-From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13). Read second time.
Ordered to third reading.
Location: 8/13/2026-S. THIRD READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Calendar: 8/17/2026 #689 SENATE ASSEMBLY BILLS - THIRD READING FILE
Summary: Existing law authorizes the legislative body of an incorporated city and the county board of
supervisors to license businesses carried on within their respective jurisdictions and to set license
fees, as specified. This bill would require a person who owns or operates a data center, prior to
applying to a city or a county for an initial business license, equivalent instrument, or permit, to provide
its water supplier, under penalty of perjury, a good faith estimate of the expected water use, the
anticipated source of water, and the data center’s projected water use volume for the maximum day,
maximum month, and average year. When applying to a city or county for an initial business license,
the bill would require a person who owns or operates a data center to report, under penalty of
perjury, on the application, a good faith estimate of the expected water use, the anticipated source of
water, and the data center’s projected water use volume for the maximum day, maximum month, and
average year. When applying to a city or county for a renewal of a business license, equivalent
instrument, or permit, the bill would require a person who owns or operates a data center to report,
under penalty of perjury, on the application, the data center’s annual water use for the preceding
calendar year, including total water and direct water use, as prescribed.
Position

AB 2739

(Soria D) Water: affordability and system stabilization.
Current Text: Amended: 7/2/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/20/2026
Last Amend: 7/2/2026
Status: 8/13/2026-From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13). Read second time.
Ordered to third reading.
Location: 8/13/2026-S. THIRD READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Calendar: 8/17/2026 #710 SENATE ASSEMBLY BILLS - THIRD READING FILE
Summary: Existing law establishes in the Natural Resources Agency the Department of Water
Resources. Existing law vests in the department powers, duties, purposes, responsibilities, and
jurisdiction in matters pertaining to water or dams. Existing law declares the responsibility of the state
to assist local governments in providing certain essential services and facilities where water resource
construction projects financed, in whole or in part, by the state or by the state jointly with the federal
government create an undue burden on a local area’s ability to provide these services and facilities.
Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the State Water Resources Control Board
to administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health. Existing
law declares it to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to safe,
clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary
purposes. This bill would establish in the State Treasury the Water Affordability and System
Stabilization Fund for holding the principal and income of the Water Affordability and System

Page 4/7

Stabilization Trust, which the bill would create.
Position
Notes 1: ACWA - SUPPORT
CMUA - SUPPORT
SB 601

(Allen D) Water: waste discharge.
Current Text: Amended: 7/10/2025 html pdf
Introduced: 2/20/2025
Last Amend: 7/10/2025
Status: 8/13/2026-August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Location: 8/7/2026-A. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Summary: The State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality
control boards regulate water quality and prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with
the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (act) and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit program. Under the act, the State Water Resources Control Board is
authorized to adopt water quality control plans for waters for which quality standards are required by
the federal Clean Water Act, as specified, and that in the event of a conflict, those plans supersede
regional water quality control plans for the same waters. This bill would authorize the state board to
adopt water quality control plans for nexus waters, which the bill would define as all waters of the
state that are not also navigable, except as specified. The bill would require any water quality
standard that was submitted to, and approved by, or is awaiting approval by, the United States
Environmental Protection Agency or the state board that applied to nexus waters as of May 24, 2023,
to remain in effect, as provided.
Position
OPPOSE
Notes 1:
ACWA - OPPOSE
CMUA - OPPOSE
CSDA - OPPOSE 3

SB 872

(McNerney D) Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund.
Current Text: Amended: 8/13/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 1/6/2026
Last Amend: 8/13/2026
Status: 8/13/2026-Assembly Rule 63 suspended. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11.
Noes 0.) (August 13). Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
Location: 8/13/2026-A. SECOND READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Calendar: 8/17/2026 #20 ASSEMBLY SECOND READING FILE -- SENATE BILLS
Summary: The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009, declares that the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta (Delta) is a critically important natural resource for California and the nation and it serves
as both the hub of the California water system and the most valuable estuary and wetland ecosystem
on the west coast of North and South America. Existing law establishes in the Natural Resources
Agency the Department of Water Resources (department). Existing law requires the department and
the Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine the principal options for the Delta and requires the
department to evaluate and comparatively rate each option for its ability to do specified things,
including, among others, to maintain Delta water quality for Delta users, and to preserve, protect, and
improve Delta levees. Existing law establishes in the agency the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Conservancy. Existing law requires the conservancy to act as a primary state agency to implement
ecosystem restoration in the Delta and to support efforts that advance environmental protection and
the economic well-being of Delta residents. Existing law provides for the preservation of specified
management areas of the Suisun Marsh, pursuant to a protection plan prepared and adopted by the
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, as provided. Existing law establishes
the Delta Stewardship Council, and requires the council to develop, adopt, and implement a
comprehensive long-term management plan for the Delta, known as the Delta Plan, as provided.
Existing law requires the department, upon appropriation, to reimburse an eligible local agency for
costs incurred for the maintenance or improvement of specified levees, in an amount not to exceed
75% of costs incurred in excess of a set amount per mile, as provided. This bill would require the
department to reimburse 100% of the excess costs if a local agency demonstrates economic hardship
and the reimbursement is for a project that addresses a threat to life, property, water supply, or
habitat.
Position

Page 5/7

SUPPORT
Notes 1: ACWA - SUPPORT
SB 1085

(Durazo D) Water supply planning: housing developments.
Current Text: Amended: 6/17/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/13/2026
Last Amend: 6/17/2026
Status: 8/6/2026-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 8/6/2026-A. THIRD READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed
Conc.
1st House
2nd House

Chaptered

Calendar: 8/17/2026 #202 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING FILE - SENATE BILLS
Summary: The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to be
responsible for determining whether a project is exempt from CEQA and whether an environmental
impact report, a negative declaration, or a mitigated negative declaration is required. Existing law
requires a city or county that determines a certain type of project is subject to the requirements of
CEQA to identify any public water system that may supply water for the project and to request those
public water systems to prepare a specified water supply assessment, as provided. This bill, among
other things, would instead require a city or county, upon receipt of a preliminary application for a
housing development project that meets certain conditions, or upon a development application for
certain projects being determined as complete or deemed complete, to make that identification of
public water systems. The bill would require a city or county, within 15 days of receiving an application
that meets either of the above-mentioned criteria, to request each identified public water system to
determine whether the projected water demand associated with the proposed project was included in
the most recently adopted urban water management plan.
Position
SUPPORT
SB 1125

(Menjivar D) Water Rate Assistance Program.
Current Text: Amended: 8/13/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/17/2026
Last Amend: 8/13/2026
Status: 8/13/2026-Assembly Rule 63 suspended. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11.
Noes 1.) (August 13). Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
Location: 8/13/2026-A. SECOND READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Calendar: 8/17/2026 #49 ASSEMBLY SECOND READING FILE -- SENATE BILLS
Summary: Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to develop a plan for the
funding and implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program. Existing law requires
the plan to include, among other things, a description of the method for collecting moneys to support
and implement the program and a description of the method for determining the amount of moneys
that may need to be collected from water ratepayers to fund the program. This bill would establish the
Water Rate Assistance Program. As part of the program, the bill would establish the Water Rate
Assistance Fund in the State Treasury, available upon appropriation by the Legislature, to provide
water affordability assistance for residential water services to low-income residential ratepayers, as
specified. The bill establishes separate implementation procedures depending on whether the state
board determines that the Legislature appropriated enough moneys from the fund for a partial
implementation of the program or a statewide implementation of the program. The bill would require
the state board to take various actions in administering the fund, including, among other things,
tracking and managing revenue in the fund separately from all other revenue. The bill would require
the state board, in consultation with relevant agencies and after a public hearing, to adopt guidelines
for implementation of the program and to adopt and submit a report to the Legislature or post the
report on its internet website, as specified. The bill would require the guidelines to include minimum
requirements for eligible systems, including the ability to confirm eligibility for enrollment through a
request for self-certification of eligibility under penalty of perjury.
Position
Notes 1: ACWA - SUPPORT IF AMENDED
CMUA - SUPPORT

SB 1153

(Caballero D) Disaster preparedness: urban retail water suppliers and public water systems:
wildfire.
Current Text: Amended: 6/22/2026 html pdf
Introduced: 2/18/2026

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Last Amend: 6/22/2026
Status: 8/6/2026-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Location: 8/6/2026-A. THIRD READING
Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Desk Policy Fiscal Floor Conf.
Enrolled Vetoed Chaptered
Conc.
1st House
2nd House
Calendar: 8/17/2026 #206 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING FILE - SENATE BILLS
Summary: The California Emergency Services Act requires all public water systems, as defined, with
10,000 or more service connections to review and revise their disaster preparedness plans in
conjunction with related agencies, including, but not limited to, local fire departments and the Office of
Emergency Services, to ensure that the plans are sufficient to address possible disaster scenarios. A
person, as defined, who violates the provisions of this act is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill,
beginning January 1, 2028, would require all urban retail water suppliers, as defined, serving a high or
very high fire hazard severity zone to include incident-specific response procedures for wildfires as part
of their disaster preparedness plans, including any applicable emergency response plan as required by
federal law. The bill would require these plans to include, among other things, mitigation actions,
including actions, procedures, and equipment, that can obviate or significantly lessen the impact of a
wildfire on the water system and the supply of drinking water provided by the water supplier.
Position
SUPPORT
Notes 1: ACWA - SUPPORT/SPONSOR
CMUA - SUPPORT
Total Measures: 14
Total Tracking Forms: 14

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