Transcript Highlights:

• There's been a lot of focus on the large main stem dams on the Columbia River, on the Snake River.
• So as we experienced with that atmospheric river in December, we had extensive flooding in the river
• Tidegates of Chinook, particularly to the Puget Sound rivers.
• This is the least of Chinook, particularly to the Puget Sound rivers.
• Basin flood control work.

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held a work session on fish passage and barrier prioritization. Tom Jameson of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife briefed members on the state salmon recovery framework, the types and prevalence of fish passage barriers, and the many existing barrier-removal programs. He explained that culverts are the most common barrier, but levees, tidegates, dams, and other structures also affect salmon and steelhead. He also described the state’s fish passage database, the assessment criteria used to determine whether a structure is a barrier, and the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board’s role in funding projects. Jameson reviewed the history of the board and its grant pathways, noting that the Legislature has funded 199 projects totaling nearly $225 million over five biennia, including significant federal support in the last biennium. He then focused on the new statewide prioritization strategy directed by the Legislature in 2020. A science panel recommended using an optimization model and then scoring and ranking barriers, but Jameson said the model depends on better stream mapping and ongoing “snapping” of stream layers to known barrier locations. He said the strategy is intended to produce watershed-based priority lists rather than a single statewide ranking. Members asked about how barriers are assessed during fish migration periods, how private land access affects inventory work, how local governments can report completed corrections, and how the prioritization criteria weight Chinook salmon and southern resident orca recovery. Jameson said urban areas with downstream barriers or heavily altered streams may be less recoverable, while rural watersheds may offer greater benefit. He also explained the federal culvert injunction, including ongoing obligations for state agencies and DOT’s 2030 target, and said the injunction never fully ends because new barriers are continually discovered and must be addressed over time. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of our basins, as you know, are over appropriated in the state of Wyoming.
• Basin.
• There is reservoirs and river system.
• It's donated in other basins.
• It's donated in other basins.

Bills: HB0116 , HB0056

Committee: Senate Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• All the labor is paid for through the Winnipegasi River Basin sewer.
• All the labor is paid for through the Winnipegasi River Basin sewer.
• </c> Winnipegasi River Basin sewer. Winnipegasi River Basin sewer.
• To my River Basin, they pay for it 100%.
• </c><01:53:57.199><c> The</c> the Wasaki River Basin program. The the Wasaki River Basin program.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• WIP Pasak River Basin program infrastructural upgrades is $19,700,000. That is on other bonding.
• It's a technical fix to the note around the Winnipesaukee River Basin.
• an</c> wiip basaki River Basin there was an wiip basaki River Basin there was an error<04:28:40.760><
• It's the Winnipesaukee River Basin revolving or Recovery Fund.
• </c><04:32:15.159><c> Fund</c> River Basin revolving or Recovery Fund River Basin revolving or Recovery

Summary: The committee held a public hearing and work session on House Bill 25/25A, the capital improvements budget. Representative David Mills introduced HB 25A, which makes appropriations for capital improvements for the biennium and extends certain lapses from prior appropriations, noting it is based on Governor Ayotte’s budget. The hearing then focused on requests to add or restore funding for several projects, including community college capital needs, Veterans Home ADA and safety upgrades, career and technical education renovations in Milford, and airport infrastructure funding. Shannon Reed of the Community College System of New Hampshire asked for an additional $2.6 million for IT infrastructure, critical maintenance, and energy management systems, citing failing boilers, roof work, cybersecurity needs, and a recent costly water damage incident at Lakes Region Community College. John Graham, representing the New Hampshire Veterans Home, requested $1.5 million for ADA compliance and safety improvements such as floor replacement and wider doors, saying the work would help the home before an upcoming VA inspection and protect federal funding. Lance Whitehead testified for Milford CTE, asking the committee to keep $9.9 million in the budget for a scaled-down renovation; members discussed the town’s failed vote, the need for local matching funds, and the possibility of another vote next year. Tim Thompson of Concord and Margaret Burns of NHMA urged restoration of airport matching funds, arguing that about $3.6 million in state money would leverage roughly $62 million to $65 million in federal FAA funds for safety and infrastructure projects. Trisha Lambert and Andrew Pomroy of the Bureau of Aeronautics and airport management association explained the airport program, the 12 federally funded airports, and how projects are selected through airport master plans and a capital improvement program. After public testimony, the committee closed the hearing on HB 25A. In the work session that followed, staff distributed supporting documents, including cost breakdowns and comparison sheets. The chair indicated the committee would work from the governor’s $143 million capital budget as a baseline and proposed reducing it by about $10 million, largely by removing the Milford CTE item because both towns had voted it down and would not have another vote for a year. The chair said the goal was to bring the overall budget to about $133 million and then repurpose the remaining funds through straw polls and further committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• The most obvious case is, of course, in the Scott and Shasta River watersheds, where there's been an
• In overdrafted basins, managed wetlands generally make up less than 1% of the irrigated lands.
• As of this February, DWR has found plans in seven of the 21 basins to be inadequate and has referred
• Many of these overdrafted basins must reduce groundwater pumping by as much as 40 to 60 percent, with
• Lake Tahoe Basin biologists, I get a phone call in February.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of water, parks, transportation, species protection, and fisheries bills. AB 430 would require the State Water Resources Control Board to publish an economic and environmental impact study when emergency water regulations are extended over multiple years; the author and supporters from agricultural and water groups said it would add transparency without limiting emergency authority. AB 1139 would expand a CEQA exemption to let county park agencies open existing roads and trails for non-motorized recreation, with supporters emphasizing access to nature and opponents warning about impacts to sensitive habitat, tribal resources, and fire risk. AB 929 would temporarily exempt small community water systems and managed wetlands from certain SGMA pumping reductions and fines; supporters said it would protect vulnerable communities and wetlands, while farm and water coalition opponents argued it would undermine basin-wide groundwater management and shift burdens to other users. AB 1225, creating an Accessibility Advisory Committee for State Parks, drew broad support and passed unanimously. The committee also heard AB 514, which would encourage local water suppliers to develop emergency water supplies for drought and service interruptions; it passed with broad support, though one member cautioned against using scientific research as a loophole. AB 550 would let developers seek incidental take permits for species under consideration for listing, aimed at reducing delays for clean energy projects; environmental groups supported the goal but asked for clearer standards, limits on using research as mitigation, and a fee provision, and the bill passed as amended. AB 697 would authorize an incidental take permit for the State Route 37 interim project in Solano and Marin counties, balancing congestion relief and habitat restoration; supporters stressed long commutes and urgent restoration deadlines, while opponents raised climate, sea-level-rise, and tribal concerns. The bill passed, with some members noting they would continue to work on the measure. Other measures discussed included AB 975, which would give Sutter County a narrow, temporary exemption from streambed alteration agreements for certain damaged small bridges and culverts; county officials described repeated flood damage and long permitting delays, and the bill passed as amended. AB 1056 would phase out transferability of set gillnet permits after 2027, allowing only a final family transfer; supporters framed it as a gradual response to bycatch concerns, while fishing industry opponents said it would unfairly target an existing fishery and set a bad precedent. The committee also took up AB 1146, described by the author as a response to politically motivated water releases; supporters from conservation and water organizations backed the bill. Several bills were voted out to Appropriations, some were left open for later action or add-ons, and the committee repeatedly noted it was working through the agenda without a quorum early in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ben Shepard, President, Permian Basin Petroleum Association. Mr. Ed Longenecker.
• I am the president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.
• The Permian Basin Reliability Plan has also been mentioned.
• We've had a deficit of available transmission in the Permian Basin for a number of years.
• I've read a lot of reports that Permian Basin was going to be over.

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• So it can help companies, say, in the Permian Basin area with the bioscience that...
• Now you're leaving it in the river, so you're leaving it in the river until that return flow point.
• In other words, your point of diversion is only on the river for that length, right?
• They're being used in the Rio Grande Basin, the Pecos Basin, the Canadian, and the...
• So you either have to send it down the river or back into the ground to re-inject it.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've been working to adjudicate the water rights across the Coeur d'Alene and Spokane River Basin
• an additional 10,000 acre-feet for future state law-based water rights that would occur within the basin
• what the tribe had pushed for and achieved in the settlement agreement was to keep the water in the rivers

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Basin, and participates in regional water and flood planning.
• The Trinity River Authority of Texas was created in 195.
• Basin, and participates in regional water and flood planning.
• How does this end up with this one river? The gentleman speaks the truth, Mr. Chairman.
• How does this end up with this one river? The gentleman speaks the truth, Mr. Chairman.

Bills: HB198 , HB303 , HB1535 , HB2742 , HB3305 , HB3348 , HB3505 , HB3711 , HB4753 , HB2715 , HB21 , HB30 , HB21 , HB198 , HB303

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Committee on Local Government heard and discussed a series of House bills dealing with municipal structure, tax payment timing, local provider participation funds, firefighter cancer screenings, sunset review of the Trinity River Authority, replacement certificates of occupancy, and open meetings enforcement. HB 303 would remove the 501-resident floor so very small type A and B municipalities can convert to type C cities; HB 2742 would give property owners a later first split-payment deadline when tax bills are mailed after November 30; HB 3305 and HB 3348 were local provider participation fund measures with committee substitutes; HB 198 would require political subdivisions to offer occupational cancer screenings for firefighters; HB 1535 was a sunset bill for the Trinity River Authority; HB 4753 would allow a municipality-issued proof of a certificate of occupancy to substitute for a lost original; and HB 3711 would treat certain Open Meetings Act violations as offenses against public administration and require public explanation when prosecutors decline to act. Testimony was generally supportive or limited, with several witnesses and senators emphasizing practical fixes, firefighter health and cost savings, local government transparency, and administrative cleanup. For HB 198, firefighter representatives gave emotional testimony about cancer deaths and the value of early screening. On HB 3711, a witness supported the bill but urged stronger enforcement and broader application. Several senators raised policy concerns on HB 2715 about routing removal proceedings through a regional presiding judge rather than the local county, arguing it could politicize the process. The committee took no public testimony on most bills and repeatedly left them pending subject to call of the chair before later voting them out. HB 21, HB 30, HB 1535, HB 1520, HB 198, HB 303, HB 2742, and HB 4753 were reported to the full Senate, generally by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. HB 30 passed on a 5-1 vote, while the other reported bills were approved unanimously or with no recorded opposition. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• state's water rights construct so they can't just take a whole bunch of new water from a stream or river
• And it is located next to the Salton Sea, the Colorado River, so on and so forth.
• But we might need some others if we're not in a GSA world and water is being taken from a basin.
• But for those, let's say we have a basin that, you know, or a city or town that has, you know, they're
• in a sustainable groundwater basin with plentiful groundwater supplies.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• On the river reintroduction in the Moripa, we have been able to complete a lot of...
• On the river reintroduction in Amorapa, we have been able to complete a lot of the initial mitigation
• We've done... there's 25 miles of you west of the Calcasieu River.
• When using river sand, if you have shallow pipelines, that could be a concern.
• When using river sand, if you have shallow pipelines, that could be a concern.

Summary: The board met at the State Capitol and approved the agenda and prior minutes after brief motions and no public comment. Executive Director Michael Hare then gave a CPRA implementation update, describing a large portfolio of active projects and highlighting several that are under construction, nearing bid, or recently awarded, including Port Fourchon shoreline protection, Caernarvon marsh creation, Schooner Bayou saltwater barrier rehabilitation, Cain Bayou marsh creation, West Shore river reintroduction work, Morganza to the Gulf, Raccoon Island restoration, Chenier-O-Tig ridge restoration, Bayou Pigeon and Dismal Swamp boat launches, Grand Bayou marsh creation, Highway 1 terracing, and several National Coastal Resilience Fund projects. He also noted the annual plan public meetings had concluded, with comments accepted through February 17, 2026, and answered board questions about the Rockefeller shoreline project, saying CPRA and the Corps were working through geotechnical and environmental issues and trying to move it forward. The board then received a joint presentation from CPRA and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on the White Lake Conservation Area and Management Plan. Speakers described White Lake as a 72,000-acre property in Vermilion Parish with major freshwater marsh, wildlife habitat, hunting and fishing opportunities, and aging infrastructure that currently operates on limited self-generated revenue. The plan, finalized in October 2025, focuses on habitat protection, maintaining wildlife, supporting revenue generation, expanding controlled public access, and strengthening partnerships. Proposed priorities include GIWW shoreline protection, Unit 2/Caddo levee stabilization, and north shoreline protection, with about $30 million secured for engineering and design and total costs estimated around $120 million to $130 million. Officials also discussed a possible lodge revitalization funded only with private dollars, broader landscape-level habitat management, conservation incentives for private landowners, and potential land acquisition for additional public access. Board members and agency leaders emphasized the importance of White Lake to waterfowl habitat and public recreation, and one member urged similar management attention for Sabine, Lacassine, and Cameron Prairie refuges. The final major presentation covered CPRA’s marsh creation design guidelines. Staff explained that marsh creation remains a major share of the coastal master plan and current project pipeline, and reviewed how projects are built using dredged sediment, containment dikes, and pipeline systems. They said the 2017 design guidelines were intended to standardize minimum design and construction practices, but are now being updated to reflect lessons learned, current survey standards, geotechnical practices, construction methods, and issues such as oil and gas infrastructure and land rights coordination. Board members asked about reducing unnecessary geotechnical costs, improving land-rights timing, considering unconfined marsh creation where appropriate, and accounting for why marsh areas are failing in the first place. Staff said they would consider those suggestions as part of the guideline update and then moved into a follow-up presentation on safety, access, and logistics for marine construction in the coastal zone.

Transcript Highlights:

• It didn't do anything for the rivers. And I want to call attention to Turlock Irrigation District.
• So when we talk about additional acre-feet, it doesn't all have to be in the rivers, as was alleged.
• I'm not looking to get more water to starve fish out of the rivers.
• I have a bill that's on consent today, and that deals with atmospheric rivers.
• And there is modeling that's being done as we speak that can tell us when those atmospheric rivers are

Summary: The committee heard several water- and environment-related bills. SB 72, by Senator Caballero, would modernize the California Water Plan and set long-term water supply targets, including an interim goal of 9 million acre-feet of additional water by 2040. Supporters from water districts, local governments, business groups, and agricultural interests argued the bill is needed to address climate-driven shortages, protect the economy, and improve planning for droughts, flooding, recharge, recycling, storage, and conveyance. Opponents, including environmental and conservation groups, argued the bill could overstate demand, increase costs, and make it harder to protect instream flows and ecosystems. The committee discussed the science behind the 9 million acre-feet target and the need to balance water supply planning with fish and ecological needs. SB 72 passed on a do-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 369, by Senator Padilla, would require a local skilled and trained workforce for all Salton Sea restoration work. The author and sponsors said the bill would protect workers exposed to hazardous conditions at the Salton Sea, create good local jobs in Imperial County, and ensure long-term workforce standards for publicly funded restoration projects. Support came from labor organizations, contractors, and other regional stakeholders; no opposition testified. Members emphasized the region’s high unemployment and the importance of workforce development. The bill passed on a do-pass motion to Labor and Employment. SB 697, by Senator Laird, would update the stream system adjudication process by allowing the State Water Board to use modern technology, such as stream gauges and digitized records, when investigating water rights claims, while still allowing field investigations when needed. The author said the process has not been updated since 1976 and should be streamlined. After amendments addressed stakeholder concerns, there was no opposition testimony. The committee asked whether the bill would affect pre-1914 water rights, and the author said it would not. SB 697 passed as amended to Judiciary. The committee also approved consent calendar items SB 599, SB 609, and SB 765 earlier in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• WAPA makes these purchases from the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund, which is funded by power revenues
• </c><04:38:19.680><c> It</c><04:38:19.920><c> is</c><04:38:20.080><c> worth</c> Colorado River Basin
• It is worth Colorado River Basin Fund.
• WAPA makes these purchases from the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund, which is funded by power revenues
• WAPA makes these purchases from the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund, which is funded by power revenues

Transcript Highlights:

• As you may know, Florida statute requires that agricultural producers within a Basin management action
• We started off with the Indian River Lagoon. Why? Why did we do that?
• I know you talked about Indian River, but >> I believe it's she was to Gregory. You're right.
• And so we've started in the Indian River Lagoon because that's one area that we know.
• You know, Senator Deciglie, we talked about Key Biscayne and Indian River Lagoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• and streams, 4,800 lakes and reservoirs, and 80 major rivers.
• , 27 lion, and then 33 other wildlife, deer, river otter, those types.
• "We ran a bill last year to bring the Tahoe Basin program to the San Gabriel Valley.
• I applaud you on the Tahoe Basin program. It's really innovative. It's worked extremely well.
• But how can we do it without the full-blown Tahoe Basin program? Thank you, Madam Chair."

Summary: The hearing focused on human-wildlife conflict in California, especially predator management involving bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and wolves. The chair and Assemblymember Hadwick framed the issue as a balance between protecting people, livestock, and property while preserving wildlife and biodiversity, citing habitat loss, development, drought, wildfire, and climate change as drivers of conflict. Department of Fish and Wildlife officials described their conflict-response work, including public education, depredation permits, wildlife incident reporting, and coordination with sheriffs, counties, and other agencies. They also noted that wildlife sightings and conflicts are increasingly common in both rural and urban areas, including recent mountain lion activity in San Francisco and ongoing bear conflicts in places like Tahoe and Sierra Madre. CDFW staff outlined the department’s human-wildlife conflict program, including the WEIR reporting system, a public toolkit, limited-term staff, and regional response efforts. They said the program grew out of drought-related incidents and later state funding, but that one-time money has expired, creating service gaps. Officials also discussed specific management approaches such as Tahoe’s trap-tag-haze bear program, DNA-based incident tracking, and the use of nonlethal deterrents before lethal action. For wolves, they explained that the species is protected and managed differently from bears and lions, that there is no general depredation-kill process for wolves, and that the department is working on data-sharing agreements, county liaisons, compensation programs, and improved coordination with ranchers and local law enforcement. Members pressed the department on underreporting, trust in state agencies, the need for sheriffs to participate in investigations, and whether more authority should be given for public-safety removals or hazing. Assemblymember Gonzalez also raised wildlife trafficking and border enforcement issues in Southern California. The panel repeatedly emphasized that more resources, technology, and local partnerships are needed. Officials gave budget context, saying roughly $17 million in one-time funding over several years supported conflict response and wolf compensation efforts, but that staffing and program capacity remain limited. The chair concluded by noting interest in further work on technology, funding, and institutionalizing collaboration, and the hearing then moved to a second panel of university researchers who presented on wolf and mountain lion conflict, habitat planning, trust, and the need for flexible, science-based, locally tailored mitigation strategies.

Transcript Highlights:

• and streams, 4,800 lakes and reservoirs, and 80 major rivers.
• , 27 lion, and then 33 other wildlife, deer, river otter, those types.
• And, you know, we ran a bill last year to bring the Tahoe Basin program to the San Gabriel Valley.
• I applaud you on the Tahoe Basin program; it's really innovative. It's worked extremely well.
• But how can we do it without the full-blown Tahoe Basin program? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• The 1944 treaty outlines the allocation of water from the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande Rivers.
• It flows directly into the Rio Grande River near Presidio, Texas and serves as our source of water for
• The Rio Grande River relies heavily on seasonal tropical storms.
• There is a lot of oil and gas interest in the Permian Basin for nuclear plants as well.
• You have plans in the Permian Basin that could be hundreds or thousands of, of reactors. Wonderful.

Bills: HCR77 , HCR102 , HR559

Committee: House S/C on State-Federal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• On page five are the Wiip Basaki River basin improvements.
• On page five are the Wiip Basaki River basin improvements.
• On page five are the Wiip Basaki River basin improvements.
• On page five are the Wiip Basaki River basin improvements.
• On page five are the Wiip Basaki River basin improvements.

Summary: The committee heard a Department of Corrections capital budget presentation on HB 25, focused largely on urgent maintenance and security needs at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men and other DOC facilities. DOC officials described the governor’s proposed priorities: boiler surge and radiator tank replacements, electronic controls and camera upgrades, and replacement of HVAC units using R22 refrigerant. They also outlined additional requested projects totaling $15.4 million, including a body alarm/man-down system at Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility, steam line and trap repairs, fire alarm replacements, and removal of an underground diesel tank in favor of above-ground storage. DOC testified that many systems are well beyond their expected service life, including 40-year-old boilers, outdated analog cameras, and HVAC equipment using discontinued R22 refrigerant. They said the men’s prison is relying on a leased temporary boiler, has significant steam leaks causing major water loss and reduced boiler efficiency, and is dealing with frequent fire alarm faults and deteriorating wiring. On the body alarm system, they said the vendor no longer supports the equipment and replacement parts are no longer available. On the diesel tank, members questioned whether it could be abandoned in place or whether fuel could be reused; DOC said it had not explored all alternatives and would follow up, while noting the tank is underground and tied into the warehouse system. Members also asked whether some current investments could be reused in the planned new men’s prison. DOC said some items, such as air handlers, might potentially be moved, but most projects are needed to keep the current facility operational and would not be practical to transfer. Questions were also raised about the leased boiler arrangement, the use of the man-down system by staff and visitors, and whether the kitchen project could be converted to a modular unit. DOC said the modular kitchen approach is necessary because the existing kitchen cannot remain fully operational during repairs. The committee then moved to lapse extensions, and DOC identified several projects no longer needing extensions, including items numbered 64, 65, and 66 in HB 25, with the chair noting those balances would be deleted and that the lapse amount was $550,500.

Transcript Highlights:

• state's water rights construct, so they can't just take a whole bunch of new water from a stream or river
• of other contracts that they themselves hold or their own water rights, or if it's in a groundwater basin
• And it is located next to the Salton Sea, the Colorado River, so on and so forth.
• But for those, let's say we have a basin or a city or town that has, you know, they're in a sustainable
• But for those, let's say we have a basin or a city or town that has, you know, they're in a sustainable

Summary: The informational hearing focused on California’s future water supply and, in particular, how the state tracks and manages commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) water use, including data centers. The chair and members framed the issue as a “trifecta” of climate-driven supply uncertainty, limited monitoring of CII uses, and rapidly changing industries with significant water demands. Committee members emphasized the need for better data before imposing broad regulations, while also expressing concern about protecting ratepayers and ensuring new large users pay their fair share. Representatives from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board reviewed the state’s existing framework: urban water management plans, water supply assessments for large projects, SBX7-7’s 20% by 2020 conservation goals, and the 2018 Making Conservation a California Way of Life law. They explained that process water, including data center cooling water, is statutorily excluded from some conservation targets, and that current CII reporting is aggregated rather than facility-specific. They also noted that local water suppliers and land use agencies retain major responsibility for approving development, while state rules and groundwater sustainability requirements provide additional checks. Committee members pressed the agencies on whether data centers should be treated differently, how recycled water is categorized, whether process water should remain exempt, and whether the state has enough information to understand the water impacts of new facilities. The agencies said they could not recommend specific water sources for individual facilities, but could support community-by-community planning and best management practices. They also said the Legislature could direct additional data collection if needed. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only. The second panel, from CalWEP and California Water Service, described how suppliers are implementing CII programs in practice. They said CII use varies widely by sector and location, making one-size-fits-all benchmarks difficult. They highlighted tools such as AI-assisted customer classification, mapping of disclosure buildings, outreach guides, and customized rebate programs for high-use customers. Examples included water-saving projects at a hydrogen plant, a commercial laundry, and fire department training systems. Speakers stressed that CII conservation work is resource-intensive, often takes years, and works best when paired with local planning, customer outreach, and targeted incentives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Prolonged interruption of a region's imported water supply can threaten the stability of the basin and
• Prolonged interruption of a region's imported water supply can threaten the stability of the basin and
• It is a foundational component of basin management. Importantly, the sponsors of...
• Linda Noriega with California Domestic Water Company and San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority in
• It plays an essential role in protecting our water resources, helping to recharge our groundwater basins

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee heard several measures focused on conservation, coastal protection, water supply, and invasive species. AB 1987 by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry would direct fees and lease revenues generated by state wildlife areas back to those areas for operation and maintenance; the author accepted committee amendments, and Audubon California testified in support with no opposition. AB 1448 by Assemblymember Hart would strengthen California’s restrictions on offshore oil and gas development by limiting the use of existing infrastructure for new offshore drilling and adding review requirements for lease transfers and related actions; it drew broad support from coastal governments and environmental groups and no opposition, and was sent to Appropriations. AB 1894 by Assemblymember Rubio addressed imported water deliveries for groundwater recharge in the context of golden mussel control plans, aiming to prevent local restrictions from blocking deliveries that comply with state-approved invasive species plans; supporters said it protects groundwater reliability, while opposition argued it could weaken local authority and liability protections. After discussion, the committee approved the bill 6-0 and sent it to Appropriations. The committee also considered ACR 107 by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, a resolution recognizing the Diablo Range as a major conservation priority and highlighting its habitat, watershed, and 30 by 30 value. Support came from Save Mount Diablo, and members emphasized the range’s ecological importance and regional reach; the resolution was adopted on a 7-0 vote. Finally, AB 1946 by Assemblymember Bryan sought to elevate investment in urban conservation and park creation in historically underserved communities as part of California’s 30 by 30 goals. Testimony from Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation and park/recreation organizations stressed the need to reduce “nature poverty,” improve access, and remediate degraded urban lands; members discussed equity, biodiversity, and park maintenance, and the bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. Several items, including AB 1987 and the consent calendar, were also approved on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, with some measures held on call before final roll calls were completed.