Long Term Water Conservation: Legislative Efforts Begin
Apr 27, 2017
The Administration released a final version of its Making Conservation a Way of Life report, with a fact sheet outlining the proposals, as well as trailer bill language to effectuate some of the changes.
The Assembly is leading the debate after its April 26 hearing on eight proposals. Among the bills are three by Assembly Member Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), who has amended the trailer bill proposals into AB 1667-1669.
Water agencies and other stakeholders have put forward their own proposals in Assembly Member Blanca Rubio’s (D-West Covina) AB 968 and AB 1654, which take a different approach to water conservation from the Administration.
To set the context for the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office released the chart below along with a handout. The committee passed all of the measures, while acknowledging the need to ultimately have one approach to addressing long-term water conservation.
The Assembly is leading the debate after its April 26 hearing on eight proposals. Among the bills are three by Assembly Member Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), who has amended the trailer bill proposals into AB 1667-1669.
Water agencies and other stakeholders have put forward their own proposals in Assembly Member Blanca Rubio’s (D-West Covina) AB 968 and AB 1654, which take a different approach to water conservation from the Administration.
To set the context for the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office released the chart below along with a handout. The committee passed all of the measures, while acknowledging the need to ultimately have one approach to addressing long-term water conservation.
| Water Conservation Legislation Before Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife |
| April 25, 2017 Hearing |
| Bill number Author Version Date Description |
| AB 869 Rubio 3/28/2017 Exempts recycled water from conservation requirements under all conditions. AB 968 Rubio 4/17/2017 Requires new 2025 water use efficiency targets for urban water suppliers. Provides options for the targets, protects water rights, and exempts recycled water. AB 1000 Friedman 2/16/2017 Requires CEC to certify innovative water conservation and water loss detection and control technologies. AB 1323 Weber 2/17/2017 Requires DWR to convene a stakeholder workgroup to develop proposals for new long-term water use targets. AB 1654 Rubio 3/28/2017 Requires new drought shortage response procedures in urban water management plans. Defines emergency supply, and protects water suppliers that comply with the plans from any state action in times of drought. AB 1667 Friedman 4/18/2017 Requires all agricultural water suppliers report water budgets, have drought plans, and expands efficient water management practices. AB 1668 Friedman 4/18/2017 Requires new drought shortage response with detailed levels of response. Incorporates climate change, enhances water supply analysis, and strengthens the enforceability of urban water management plans and drought response plans. AB 1669 Friedman 4/18/2017 Authorizes and requires SWRCB to adopt long-term water use efficiency standards. Source: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife staff. CEC = California Energy Commission, DWR = Department of Water Resources, and SWRCB = State Water Resources Control Board. |