[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6683859,"mediaKeyId","5113987-a95c94f620de0e44ffdd2bd614d62b97","parentId",5113987,"title","Assembly committee advances SB 72, setting 9 million-acre-foot water supply target to plan for climate impacts","audioSeconds",2080,"startMs",2650000,"endMs",4730000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113987-a95c94f620de0e44ffdd2bd614d62b97&start=2650&end=4730","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113987-a95c94f620de0e44ffdd2bd614d62b97/thumbnail_2650000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6683859/California/Assembly-committee-advances-SB-72-setting-9-million-acre-foot-water-supply-target-to-plan-for-climate-impacts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683859-8a7699c6cc662da3ea9ae9cd8f74ccf6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820086&Signature=Yv73SI6O5woq7NrOLrWULVSvYc1E7x-Ag5cnQSmgAgfHpv6fg1XIbNFLe2gOHQbWT7GlVu42f~pyDneHoSBxpAIwBWeHzcMdqCEFNSmuXA25~Ea~4e20b-QtL2C4AHX0qWA5rqS8lik9N7q-JSCCS5l3ielwK9Lv0-CbtnfR8lZCkO33j4frksu4kOxrG7ZTHxA1hFijLRWvhIesXDLUo4ocIl2lXlLOkgeKVvxBJrlL7pvGAmfshS75Kh~SkM2K2QCs9XquyFOLzzlFZ6o2dwMvlMk3viBpjntHKoGzAPMMqjI65iIUS5mRTgT0TFY2pM4cCuj0PY3JwYUaiz7acQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Assembly","date","2025-07-01T00:00:00Z","article","SB 72, introduced in committee by Senator Caballero, won committee approval and was sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee after nearly two hours of testimony and questions. The bill would modernize the California Water Plan, set an interim statewide target of 9,000,000 acre-feet of additional water supply by 2040, and require the Department of Water Resources to develop further long-term targets and planning steps to address climate-driven variability.

The legislation’s author told the committee the goal is to “drought proof” the state. “That’s the key to this water plan — a drought proof future,” Senator Caballero said, describing the California Water Plan as the state’s strategic document for managing water and saying meaningful revisions have not been made in two decades. The bill, she said, reflects research and aims to employ “all of the tools in the toolbox” including desalination, recycling and reuse, groundwater recharge and demand management.

Supporters included water utility managers and regional water agencies who told the committee they face rapidly changing supply conditions. Craig Miller, general manager of Western Municipal Water District and then-president of the California Municipal Utilities Association, described recent swings in state allocations and the risk that insufficient planning would force cutbacks to major employers in his service area. “That’s not resilience. That’s taking on a huge risk if we don’t move forward,” Miller said, adding the bill sets “real world goals and planning requirements to ensure reliability.” Paul Helliker, general manager of San Juan Water District, described “weather whiplash” in recent years and said SB 72 would both set a target and create a strategic plan to meet it.

Opponents and some environmental groups cautioned the committee about potential harms from overestimating future supply. Dennis O’Connor of the Mono Lake Committee said the bill “is actually going backwards,” arguing that earlier water‑plan processes focused on matching forecasted demand with available supply and that an oversized target risks overbuilding infrastructure and raising costs. The Planning and Conservation League’s Natalie Brown and representatives of Defenders of Wildlife and the Golden Gate Salmon Association registered opposition as well, warning about stresses on instream flows and ecosystems.

Committee members pressed the author on the source of the 9,000,000-acre-foot figure and on ecological protections. Senator Caballero said a legislatively commissioned review of existing studies landed on the 9 million figure after peer review of the literature; she also emphasized the bill does not prescribe where additional water would come from and “doesn’t pick winners or losers.” Assemblymember Rogers asked how the bill would account for local ecology and minimum flows; Caballero replied the statute would set targets and planning requirements but would not specify allocation decisions in statute.

The committee record included several quantitative estimates cited in testimony: a University of California literature review cited during the hearing estimated an annual future supply shortfall of roughly 4,690,000 acre-feet and economic risks from inaction up to about $14.5 billion per year and the potential loss of about 67,000 jobs. Testimony also cited projections that Central Valley agricultural acreage at risk could range from about 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 acres without additional water planning and infrastructure. Those figures were presented to illustrate the bill’s policy rationale.

After discussion, committee members moved and seconded the measure. The committee clerk announced the motion as “due passed to Appropriations” with no committee amendments; the roll call registered the following members voting aye: Pappen; Jeff Gonzales; Alvarez; Avila Farias; Banes; Bennett; Berner; Colosa; Hart; Macedo; Celeste Rodriguez; Rogers; Tongipa. The committee noted there would be further opportunities for stakeholder input as planning and targets are developed.

SB 72 advances the Legislature’s ongoing debate over how to balance infrastructure investment, environmental protections and cost. The bill now proceeds to the Appropriations Committee, where its fiscal details and potential funding mechanisms would be reviewed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee (1)","oneSentenceSummary","SB 72, introduced by Senator Caballero, won committee approval and was sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee after testimony from water managers, environmental groups and others; the bill would set an interim target of 9,000,000 acre-feet of additional water supply by 2040 and require updated statewide planning.","taxTitle","California State Assembly, House, Legislative, California","taxId",17099,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6683849,"Committee approves SB 697 to allow digital tools in stream adjudications; refers bill to Judiciary",234,5407000,5641000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113987-a95c94f620de0e44ffdd2bd614d62b97&start=5407&end=5641","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113987-a95c94f620de0e44ffdd2bd614d62b97/thumbnail_5407000.jpg","/articles/6683849/California/Committee-approves-SB-697-to-allow-digital-tools-in-stream-adjudications-refers-bill-to-Judiciary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683849-1c33f97ea3eec5eb6a7e0787de400b6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820086&Signature=SqV1lXKzqTaDhUWT6z~~0SAg7Uqj-yp4OEX0bmrBxOMsmgdS9Phrx9SVusqAr69rsyBFizUIy4-uO9uqs5CpRTvqPVrm7JOKvjFGpizQ-xdFqt9RfviH4yXD~cPMpm2FEBcRx7bbZ7jakeENbvfNORliW152R1xklA91zD~7~6CepwKEJMpCmGyDfH8-ur2aaZSp8-8bwznsVK~bo9QgrlAYGfQGXx9jjcE08A0heOg9xluM06NnziqXLmDxfv~AC6urOYyWHCYmIGOA4vWQGF-6VBHkamrOsJSujqeATOQBVh5sTO8ccgdG0AV4mEiMe9G98qI4E59B-Z62WrSpkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Laird presented SB 697, a bill intended to streamline the stream-system adjudication process by permitting the State Water Resources Control Board to use modern technology in cases when in-person visits are currently required. The measure would allow digitized gauges, remote data and other electronic tools to supplement in-person fieldwork and preserve the board’s authority to conduct field investigations when necessary.

Laird said the bill responds to long travel distances, increasing availability of real-time data and the digitization of stream-gauge records. She noted stakeholders’ concerns were addressed through committee amendments and that those parties removed a prior letter of concern.

Assemblymember Tongapaugh asked whether the measure could be used to alter pre‑1914 water rights; Laird replied directly that it would not, saying the bill does not touch pre‑1914 water rights but instead provides procedural flexibility for investigations. Committee members expressed support for the efficiency gains while preserving field investigation authority.

The committee voted to pass SB 697 as amended to the Judiciary Committee. The clerk recorded ayes from most members; one member (Tongupa) was announced as not voting on the roll call. The chair said the bill will be left open for any additional action and moved on to subsequent agenda items.

SB 697 will be considered in the Judiciary Committee, where legal and procedural implications for adjudication processes and stakeholder concerns will be reviewed further.","SB 697 would let the State Water Resources Control Board use modern technology and digitized data during stream adjudication and field investigations; the committee passed the bill as amended and sent it to the Judiciary Committee.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6683852,"Committee sends SB 369 forward to require local skilled-and-trained workforce on Salton Sea restoration projects",614,4769000,5383000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113987-a95c94f620de0e44ffdd2bd614d62b97&start=4769&end=5383","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113987-a95c94f620de0e44ffdd2bd614d62b97/thumbnail_4769000.jpg","/articles/6683852/California/Committee-sends-SB-369-forward-to-require-local-skilled-and-trained-workforce-on-Salton-Sea-restoration-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683852-5a2c9699a2bd2f4bb1021ab245a3ae56/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820086&Signature=JOWONlxVB-T-N7JS-ZSxz51nQbRJETK7s0oW9DP96aQt2JpoCBGbjjwP9Q5Kzj4pKq3hshBVbmNYZQU9HGb2pbkATPNuimJylUNGWZreAMYsRgcvNxlse-~TRlQFtBU5iHIHTP9Sm~hNeOkfAl3ucidkgasSBlWkq0JE18KpKpZPnkqLYyQfc6FJn5ucudu-WTgOSUAkpsY4CPe3MQvjsCPuMxlDQv2GHlj4yikOZujHsuhZZ5MWZ9216H8~WUbmZM0p--smyxkc2HKKUaQcHVXuylTCZvMYWkBHwOU7BuvNrRW~8-cUK3UT28HkcMKoXOXhMSLdC8pbJVMjbDC1tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Padilla presented SB 369 to the committee and asked for an aye vote. The bill would statutorily require the use of a local skilled-and-trained workforce on all Salton Sea restoration projects, ensuring a portion of workers are graduates of state-registered apprenticeship programs, receive prevailing wages and benefit packages, and create a pipeline of trained local workers for long-term restoration work.

Padilla told the committee the Salton Sea’s receding shoreline has increased salinity and exposed toxic lakebed dust, worsening regional air quality and public-health risks. “Workers performing restoration projects face exposures at high levels to toxic substances because of their proximity and their interaction with the lake bed,” she said, adding the Imperial Valley has high unemployment and that codifying workforce protections would provide stable, higher-quality jobs while protecting workers.

Union and trades representatives testified in support. Matthew Kremens of the California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers, a sponsor, cited the region’s 17.4% unemployment rate and described restoration projects as an opportunity to build apprenticeship pipelines and middle‑class careers. Keith Dunn of the State Building Trades said skilled-and-trained requirements ensure safety on complex, high-risk projects and provide career pathways with training, retirement and benefits.

Supporters from a range of unions, local governments and contractors also spoke in favor. The author and sponsors told the committee that state agencies currently require skilled-and-trained labor on certain design-build procurements administratively, and SB 369 would extend that protection by statute to all restoration contracts regardless of procurement method.

No witnesses registered opposition during the hearing, and committee members — including the vice chair who represents areas near the Salton Sea — praised the job and public-health rationale and emphasized the need for generational jobs in the region.

A motion carried to refer SB 369 to the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee. The clerk announced the motion as “due passed to Labor and Employment.” The roll-call recorded ayes from Pappen; Jeff Gonzales; Alvarez; Avila Farias; Banes; Bennett; Berner; Colosa; Hart; Macedo; Celeste Rodriguez; Rogers; Tongipa. SB 369 will next be considered by Labor and Employment, where implementation details and fiscal effects will be reviewed.

If enacted, the bill would codify protections supporters say are already applied administratively to design-build projects, extend them to all project procurement methods and aim to ensure local hiring, training and workplace safety for Salton Sea restoration work.","SB 369 would codify skilled-and-trained workforce requirements for all Salton Sea restoration work to protect workers, expand local hiring and create apprenticeship pipelines; the committee approved the measure and referred it to the Labor and Employment Committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assembly committee advances SB 72, setting 9 million-acre-foot water supply target to plan for climate impacts

Committee approves SB 697 to allow digital tools in stream adjudications; refers bill to Judiciary

Committee sends SB 369 forward to require local skilled-and-trained workforce on Salton Sea restoration projects