Legislature Wraps Up 2023 and Marks End of Era in Leadership

  • by Adam Quiñonez
  • Sep 15, 2023
  • Voices on Water

As the 2023 legislative year draws to a close, it marks the end of an era with a change in legislative leadership. Longtime Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) transitioned out of his leadership role in July and later came the announcement that Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) will step down in 2024. Their successors, Assembly Member Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Senator Mike McGuire (D-Geyserville), will be faced with significant remaining water issues to close out the second year of the two-year session.  

For ACWA’s legislative team, much of the 2023 legislative year was focused on stopping three proposals that would have recast California’s water rights system and supporting four water and climate bond proposals that would make significant investments in water infrastructure. 

On water rights, ACWA quickly adopted oppose positions on AB 460 (Bauer-Kahan), AB 1337 (Wicks), and SB 389 (Allen). ACWA formed a broad coalition of water agencies, business groups, labor groups, and others to narrowly stop AB 460 and AB 1337 in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The third bill, SB 389, was amended to address ACWA’s concerns in large part due to the advocacy of the coalition and the leadership of Senator Ben Allen.

The willingness of our member agencies to engage local legislators on the water rights issue proved extremely effective, while the ACWA advocacy team in Sacramento demonstrated its ability to expand coalitions with stakeholders from outside the water community. This collaboration will again be essential next year, when we can expect water and natural resources policy to remain top of mind for legislators.

Concurrently, ACWA continued to advocate in strong support of investments in, and streamlining of, water resilience infrastructure. ACWA worked to amend SB 867 (Allen) to make investments in recycled water, groundwater recharge, dam safety, conveyance, storage, and more. The Assembly also introduced a bond bill, AB 1567 (Garcia), that would make similar investments in many of ACWA’s priorities. While neither bill passed out of the legislature this year, the intent is to finalize negotiations on a water and climate resilience bond early next year to be placed on the November 2024 ballot.

Also on infrastructure, ACWA strongly supported Gov. Gavin Newsom’s infrastructure streamlining package that was a top legislative priority for much of the summer. This package of bills continued conversations that started with ACWA’s sponsored bill, SB 23 (Caballero) that would have streamlined certain permitting processes for water infrastructure projects. On. Newsom’s proposals, ACWA led a coalition of 30 water agencies, business groups, labor groups, and others to help move the package of bills forward which were passed and signed into law in July. 

While this session was focused on several key issues, there were also many other proposals on groundwater, water-use efficiency, water rates, shut-offs and more on which ACWA was actively engaged. Looking forward to next year, we are likely to see the return of proposals on water rights, a continuation of water bond negotiations – and if this year was any indication, some surprises as well. While it’s always difficult to predict what the next legislative year may hold, it’s clear that this Legislature has a keen interest in water and natural resources policy.

Suggested Resources

15 RESOURCES prev next
2023 Summary of Appellate Cases

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Committee Meetings Resources

Resources for ACWA Committee Meetings held during ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo are available below.  Agriculture Committee Agenda Communications […]

Priority Issues Bulletin

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Regulatory Roundup

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Webinar – A Conversation on AI-Driven Communications for Water Agencies

ChatGPT and generative AI have caused quite a stir in the world of creatives and communicators this year. For some, […]

Joint Comment Letter on Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject:Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook Letter excerpt: The undersigned associations are grateful for this opportunity to […]

Comment Letter — Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter — Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Letter excerpt: […]

Webinar – Achieving Cr6 MCL Compliance: A Review of RCF Treatment Options

The State Water Resources Control Board has identified reduction-coagulation-filtration (RCF) as the best available technology for Cr6 removal based on […]

QuenchCA Fall 2023 Toolkit

ACWA has released new toolkit resources for the statewide public education campaign Quench California, and continues to offer partnership opportunities […]

Making Conservation a CA Way of Life Fact Sheet

ACWA’s Making Conservation a California Way of Life Fact Sheet provides a summary of the State Water Board’s draft regulatory text […]

Draft Extended Arrearage Program Guidelines – Comment Letter

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject:Comment Letter – Draft Extended Arrearage Program Guidelines Letter excerpt: The Association of California Water […]

Request to Veto AB 249 (Holden)

To: The Honorable Gavin Newsom Subject: AB 249 (Holden) – REQUEST FOR VETO Letter excerpt: The Association of California Water […]

Draft Fiscal Year 2023-24 Fund Expenditure Plan for the SADW Fund

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Draft Fiscal Year 2023-24 Fund Expenditure Plan for the Safe and […]

Federal Legislative Matrix

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Joint Comment Letter on Direct Potable Reuse Regulations

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Direct Potable Reuse Regulations (SBDDW-23-001) Letter excerpt: The increasing volatility of climate change across […]

Suggested News

15 Articles prev next
Novel Storm Drain Receives Two ‘Outstanding’ Accolades

BEAUMONT – An innovative stormwater capture project, known as the Beaumont MDP Line 16, received two notable awards earlier this […]

New Sacramento Regional Water Bank Video Series Explores Climate Change Adaptation

SACRAMENTO, CA—The Regional Water Authority (RWA) is pleased to announce the release of a new video series designed to educate […]

EPA Releases Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). The LCRI is […]

Local Water District Internship Program Boosts Career Prospects

ROWLAND HEIGHTS – Rowland Water District (RWD) representatives Allen Davidson, Elisabeth Mendez, and Dusty Moisio delivered highly informative presentations at […]

DWR Announces Initial State Water Project Allocation for 2024

Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation forecast of 10 percent of […]

ACWA Presents Irvine Ranch Water District With 2023 Excellence in Communication Award

INDIAN WELLS – The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today presented its Huell Howser Excellence in Communication Award to […]

ACWA Awards $10,000 Water Law & Policy Scholarship

INDIAN WELLS – The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today announced the winner of its 2023 Stephen K. Hall […]

PWD Clearwell Water Tank Back Online After Baffle Curtains Removed

PALMDALE – The Palmdale Water District (PWD) 6-million-gallon clearwell has returned to service after nearly a month of baffle curtain […]

ACWA Presents 2023 Emissary Award to Edgar Dymally

INDIAN WELLS – The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) on Nov. 29 presented its 18th annual Emissary Award to […]

Final Construction of the College Lake Water Supply Project Pipeline Starts in Early 2024

WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) is celebrating the completion of 4.5 miles of the 6-mile […]

MWDOC Collaborates with Chapman University on Sustainable Landscaping

Through participation in the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s (MWDOC) Turf Removal Rebate Program, Chapman University (Chapman) recently transformed […]

Sacramento Regional Water Bank Governance Structure Document Now Available

The Regional Water Authority (RWA) is pleased to release a second foundational document for the Sacramento Regional Water Bank (Water […]

Zone 7 Receives Highest Bond Rating From S&P and Revised Outlook From Fitch

Two independent credit rating agencies have reviewed Zone 7 Water Agency’s current position in connection with the agency’s anticipated sale […]

James Gumpel Appointed General Manager of Vallecitos Water District

SAN MARCOS – At the November 15, 2023 board meeting, the Vallecitos Water District (VWD) Board of Directors voted unanimously […]

Mojave Water Agency Installs Final Weather Station

Apple Valley, CA — While it is uncertain whether the High Desert will receive any rain from the El Nino […]