Key Legislation

Legislation of key interest to the Water Authority is listed on this page.

To view all current state and federal legislation on which the Water Authority has adopted positions, visit our Positions and Actions page.

State Legislation

On November 4, 2009, the state Legislature passed landmark legislation known as the Bay-Delta bill package. The enactment of the Bay-Delta bill package was a historic accomplishment for water and will advance Bay-Delta policy as well as statewide water conservation and enforcement of water rights. The bill package included a bond measure and four policy bills. 

Water Bond
Senate Bill No. 2 in the 7th Extraordinary Session of 2009 (SBX7-2)
(Senator Cogdill): Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010

With the passing of SBX7-2, an $11.4 billion general obligation bond measure was approved to be placed before voters for projects that achieve the co-equal goals of water supply reliability and ecosystem restoration. The bond measure was set to be included on the November 2, 2010 general election ballot as Proposition 18, The Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010. In a major development (August 2010), legislation was signed by the Governor to postpone consideration of the bond measure to the November 2012 general election. 

If approved by voters, the water bond would provide considerable direct and indirect help towards improving water supply and water quality in San Diego County. The bond measure provides $227 million for projects in San Diego County, including $100 million for water supply reliability projects, $87 million for integrated regional water management, and $40 million for watershed projects. The San Diego region would also be eligible to compete for $3.5 billion in competitive grants in various categories.
SBX7-2
 

The four water policy bills included in the Bay-Delta bill package and signed into law include:

Senate Bill No. 1 in the 7th Extraordinary Session of 2009 (SBX7-1)
(Senator Simitian): Public Resources

This legislation established as official state policy the “coequal goals” of water supply reliability and environmental restoration in the Delta. The Delta Stewardship Council, Delta Conservancy, Delta Watermaster, and Independent Science Board were established. The Delta Protection Commission was restructured and is required to adopt a Delta sustainability plan by July 2011. SBX7-1 provides the structure and process to implement the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) once completed. Implementation of the BDCP will improve water supply reliability for Southern California. (For more information on the BDCP, click here.
SBX7-1
 

Senate Bill No. 6 in the 7th Extraordinary Session of 2009 (SBX7-6)
(Senator Steinberg): Groundwater Monitoring

SBX7-6 provides for statewide groundwater monitoring. California did not previously have any requirement that groundwater levels be monitored, although it is a widespread practice in Southern California. This legislation provides for a greater ability to manage water supplies statewide.
SBX7-6
 

Senate Bill No. 7 in the 7th Extraordinary Session of 2009 (SBX7-7)
(Senator Steinberg): Water Conservation

SBX7-7 requires the state to achieve a 20 percent reduction in urban per capita water use by 2020. This legislation provides a greater ability statewide to manage water supplies. Included are procedures for agricultural and for commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) water users to reduce water use.
SBX7-7
 

Senate Bill No. 8 in the 7th Extraordinary Session of 2009 (SBX7-8)
(Senator Steinberg): Water Diversion Reporting

This legislation requires water users in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to report their diversions of water each year. It is estimated that illegal diversions from the Delta may be eliminated by as much as 500,000 acre-feet of water per year. SBX7-8 also appropriates money from existing water bonds.
SBX7-8