ACWA Urges Members to Oppose AB 1881

ACWA is urging member agencies to contact their local legislators and join a coalition in opposition of AB 1881 (Ramos), which would allow tribes or tribal members an effective veto over state land use and water management decisions. Action is needed as soon as possible, as a vote is expected as soon as today.

Specifically, the bill would require state agencies to obtain written tribal consent before advancing projects on state lands or waters that may affect sacred sites. The bill does not provide a defined timeline for obtaining that consent, nor process for resolving a disagreement, and no mechanism for the state to proceed in the public interest if an impasse cannot be resolved.

Additionally, the bill creates a private right of action — including injunctive relief and attorney’s fees — that can be asserted in any judicial or administrative proceeding challenging state decisions involving state lands or waterways. The private right of action and consent requirements would essentially give tribes the final word over water and land management decisions.

Take Action Now

ACWA has been working with a large coalition in opposition of the bill, but now needs member agencies from across the state to add their logo to the coalition letter as soon as possible to reinforce and strengthen this final advocacy push.

1. Contact your local legislators now to share your agency’s opposition of AB 1881. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill as soon as today. If approved, it will go back to the Assembly for a final vote. Monday is the deadline for both houses to vote on bills. Legislator contact information is available on the Assembly and Senate websites.
2. Join the coalition in opposition of 1881 by forwarding your agency’s logo to ACWA State Relations Advocate Amber Rossow. ACWA is part of a larger coalition that has been opposing the bill. The coalition opposed to the bill is led by the California Chamber of Commerce and includes more than 20 other organizations, such as the Northern California Water Association, League of California Cities and Western Growers.

Background

ACWA and the coalition support meaningful tribal consultation, such as the CEQA tribal consultation mandates, but believe AB 1881 goes too far.

The coalition agrees that tribes deserve a meaningful voice when the state undertakes actions that may affect sacred sites and culturally significant lands, and ACWA remains committed to working with the author and tribes to strengthen tribal consultation in a way that is workable and enforceable. But AB 1881, as written, does not strengthen that process; it bypasses it entirely.

For more information, view the coalition’s floor alert.

Questions

For questions about SB 1153, please contact ACWA State Relations Advocate Amber Rossow at (916) 669-2382.

ACWA-Sponsored Wildfire Preparedness Bill Heads to Assembly Floor

ACWA is urging member agencies to contact their Assemblymembers to support ACWA-sponsored SB 1153 (Caballero), which is heading to the Assembly floor.  

The bill would establish that limitations in water supply or pressure during a wildfire are not a substantial cause of damages and require certain urban water suppliers to include wildfire response procedures in their emergency response plans. A fact sheet is available for more information on the bill. 

Take Action Now  

1. Contact your Assemblymembers now to share your agency’s support for SB 1153. ACWA has created talking points that are outlined below to assist in these conversations. Contact information is available on the Assembly’s website. 

Talking Points 

• SB 1153 would improve planning and resilience by strengthening emergency preparedness for water systems located in high wildfire risk areas. 

• The bill would allow water agencies – the experts on their systems – to develop preparedness strategies that reflect local conditions and operational needs. 

• SB 1153 clarifies misconceptions about the capabilities of water systems during wildfire events. 

• The bill would protect ratepayers by reducing exposure to costly lawsuits related to wildfire damages that can ultimately increase water rates and affordability. 

• The bill would provide greater financial certainty so water agencies can continue to invest in water reliability and resilience projects. 

2. Join the ACWA coalition in support of SB 1153 by completing a short online form. If your agency has already joined the coalition, you do not need to complete the form again. 

Background 

Wildfires are increasing in frequency, severity and destructive impact across California. Public water systems continue to be vulnerable to wildfire-related impacts, including infrastructure damage, power disruptions, water quality degradation and excessive or uncontrolled water demands. 

While water systems may be available to aid firefighting activities, they are intentionally designed to meet state and federal safe drinking water standards and provide water to aid in extinguishing structural fires to the properties they serve — not to serve as wildfire suppression systems. Designing water infrastructure to function as wildfire defense systems would be physically impracticable, financially infeasible and could compromise drinking water quality and affordability. 

At the same time, proactive planning is essential. SB 1153 would require urban retail water suppliers serving high or very high fire hazard severity zones to incorporate incident-specific wildfire response procedures into their existing disaster preparedness and emergency response plans. 

By improving wildfire planning and resilience while recognizing the physical and financial limits of water infrastructure, SB 1153 would help protect ratepayers, support emergency response and ensure the long-term reliability of California’s drinking water systems. 

Questions 

For questions about SB 1153, please contact ACWA State Relations Advocate Kylie Wright at (916) 669-2382.

ACWA-Sponsored Wildfire Preparedness Bill Scheduled for Hearing

ACWA-sponsored SB 1153 (Caballero) has passed the Senate and been triple referred to the Assembly Emergency Management Committee, Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, and Assembly Judiciary Committee.

ACWA is asking members to attend the upcoming hearings to support the bill, which would clarify the limited role of public water systems during wildfires while strengthening emergency preparedness in high-risk areas.  

The bill would also establish that limitations in water supply or pressure during a wildfire are not a substantial cause of damages, clarify that wildfire spread is not an inherent risk of public water system design or operation and require certain urban water suppliers to include wildfire response procedures in their emergency response plans. A fact sheet is available for more information on the bill. 

Take Action Now  

1. Attend the committee hearings. ACWA is asking members to testify in person at the Assembly Emergency Management Committee on June 15 in support of the bill. The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the State Capitol, Room 444.

The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee is expected to hear the bill at its June 16 meeting. If the bill is included in the hearing, ACWA encourages agencies to attend and testify in support of the bill. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. also at the State Capitol, Room 444.

It is not yet known when the bill will be heard by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

2. Contact committee members. If your local assembly member serves on the Emergency Management Committee or Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, please contact them and urge a “Yes” vote on SB 1153. Contact information can be found on the Assembly website.

Please see below the list of committee members:

Assembly Emergency Management Committee members: 

• Rhodesia Ransom (Chair) (D – Stockton) 
• Heather Hadwick (Vice Chair) (R – Alturas) 
• Joaquin Arambula (D – Fresno) 
• Jasmeet Kaur Bains (D – Bakersfield) 
• Steve Bennett (D – Ventura)  
• Lisa Calderon (D – Whittier) 
• Carl DeMaio (R – Valley Center)

Assembly ESTM Committee members:

• Damon Connolly (Chair) (D – San Rafael)
• Stan Ellis (Vice Chair) (R – Bakersfield)
• Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D – Orinda)
• Leticia Castillo (R – Riverside)
• Alex Lee (D – San Jose)
• Tina McKinnor (D – Inglewood)
• Diane Papan (D – San Mateo)

3. Join the ACWA coalition in support of SB 1153 by completing a short online form. While the deadline to be included in the letters to the first two committees has passed, there is still an opportunity for your agency to be included in the letter to the Assembly Judiciary C If your agency has already joined the coalition, you do not need to complete the form again. 

Background 

Wildfires are increasing in frequency, severity and destructive impact across California. Public water systems are vulnerable to wildfire-related impacts, including infrastructure damage, power disruptions, water quality degradation and excessive or uncontrolled water demands. 

While water systems may be available to aid firefighting activities, they are intentionally designed to meet state and federal safe drinking water standards and provide water to aid in extinguishing structural fires to the properties they serve — not to serve as wildfire suppression systems. Designing water infrastructure to function as wildfire defense systems would be physically impracticable, financially infeasible and could compromise drinking water quality and affordability. 

At the same time, proactive planning is essential. SB 1153 would require urban retail water suppliers serving high or very high fire hazard severity zones to incorporate incident-specific wildfire response procedures into existing disaster preparedness and emergency response plans. By improving planning while recognizing the physical and financial limits of water infrastructure, SB 1153 would help protect ratepayers, support emergency response, and ensure the long-term reliability of California’s drinking water systems. 

Questions 

For questions about SB 1153, please contact ACWA State Relations Advocate Kylie Wright at (916) 669-2382.

ACWA-Sponsored Proposition 218 Rate-Setting Legislation Scheduled for Hearing

ACWA is encouraging members to join a coalition and attend a Senate Local Government Committee hearing to support AB 2180 (Ward), which would clarify how water agencies comply with Proposition 218 when setting water rates. This will be the final opportunity for members to testify in support of the bill before it goes to the Senate Floor for approval.

The bill would make clarifications that would provide predictability for agencies, support California’s water-use conservation goals and help minimize unnecessary legal disputes over water rates. A fact sheet is available for more information on the bill.

Take Action Now

1. Join ACWA’s coalition by completing a short online form. Agencies that join the coalition by noon on Wednesday, May 27 will be included in a letter to the Senate Local Government Committee that will be submitted by the May 28 deadline. More than 75 agencies have already joined the coalition. If your agency has already joined, you do not need to complete the form again.
2. Attend the committee hearing. The Senate Local Government Committee is expected to hear the bill at its June 3 meeting. If the bill is included in the hearing, ACWA encourages agencies to attend and testify in support of the bill. The hearing is expected to start at 9:30 a.m. in Hearing Room 2200. An update on the schedule will be emailed to coalition members.

Background

Since the passage of Proposition 218 in 1996, public water agencies have been required to ensure that rates do not exceed the proportional cost of service attributable to each parcel. Agencies typically engage independent experts and rely on rigorous cost-of-service studies to meet this constitutional standard.

Despite these efforts, high-volume water users have continued to challenge rate structures in court. Recent appellate court decisions have created uncertainty about how agencies must demonstrate proportionality — particularly for tiered rates. The most recent decision, Dreher v. LADWP, provides a framework that aligns with longstanding industry practice. AB 2180 would codify that framework into statute to ensure clear, consistent standards for agencies statewide.

Providing this clarification will help agencies confidently develop constitutionally sound rates while continuing to deliver safe and reliable water service to their communities.

Questions

For questions about AB 2180, please contact ACWA Senior State Relations Advocate Soren Nelson at (916) 669-2367.

Member Action Needed on Wildfire Preparedness Bills

ACWA is urging members to support ACWA-sponsored SB 1153, authored by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced), which would clarify the limited role of public water systems during wildfires while strengthening emergency preparedness in high-risk areas.

Public water systems are designed and constructed to provide safe, reliable drinking water, not to serve as wildfire defense or suppression systems. While water agencies often aid firefighting efforts, it would be physically impracticable and financially infeasible to design water systems to function as wildfire suppression infrastructure.

An alternative proposal, AB 2013 (Bennett), would impose unrealistic and potentially costly requirement on water suppliers. ACWA is also asking members to oppose AB 2013 unless amended.

Take Action Now – Support SB 1153

1. Join the ACWA coalition in support of SB 1153 by completing a short online form. Agencies that join the coalition by April 2 will be included in a letter to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. The more member agencies that join, the stronger the message to the Legislature.
2. Attend the committee hearing. ACWA is asking members to testify in person at the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 14 in support of the bill. The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the State Capitol, Room 113.
3. Contact committee members. If your local Senator serves on the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, please contact them and urge a “Yes” vote on SB 1153. ACWA has created talking points to assist in these conversations. Contact information can be found on the Senate website.

Please see below the list of Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee members:

• Josh Becker (Chair) (D – Menlo Park)
• Kelly Seyarto (Vice Chair) (R – Murrieta)
• Benjamin Allen (D – Santa Monica)
• Christopher Cabaldon (D – Yolo)
• Shannon Grove (R – Bakersfield)
• John Laird (D – Santa Cruz)
• Henry Stern (D – Los Angeles)

Take Action Now – Oppose AB 2013 Unless Amended

1. Join the ACWA coalition opposing AB 2013 unless amended by completing a short online form. Agencies that join the coalition by April 3 will be included in letters to the Assembly Emergency Management and Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committees.
2. Attend the hearings. ACWA is asking members to testify in person at the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee on April 14 to urge the committee to vote “No” on AB 2013. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the State Capitol, Room 444.
   AB 2013 will be heard in the Assembly Emergency Management Committee hearing tentatively on April 13.
3. Contact committee members. If your local Assemblymember serves on the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee or the Assembly Emergency Management Committee, please contact them and urge a “No” vote on AB 2013. ACWA has created talking points to assist in these conversations. Contact information can be found on the Assembly website.

Please see below the list of committee members:

Assembly ESTM Committee Members:

• Damon Connolly (Chair) (D – San Rafael)
• Stan Ellis (Vice Chair) (R – Bakersfield)
• Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D – Orinda)
• Leticia Castillo (R – Riverside)
• Alex Lee (D – San Jose)
• Tina McKinnor (D – Inglewood)
• Diane Papan (D – San Mateo)

Assembly Emergency Management Committee Members:

• Rhodesia Ransom (Chair) (D – Stockton)
• Heather Hadwick (Vice Chair) (R – Alturas)
• Joaquin Arambula (D – Fresno)
• Jasmeet Kaur Bains (D – Bakersfield)
• Steve Bennett (D – Ventura) (Author of AB 2013)
• Lisa Calderon (D – Whittier)
• Carl DeMaio (R – Valley Center)

Background

Wildfires are increasing in frequency, severity and destructive impact across California. Public water systems are vulnerable to wildfire-related impacts, including infrastructure damage, power disruptions, water quality degradation and excessive or uncontrolled water demands.

While water systems may be available to aid firefighting activities, they are intentionally designed to meet state and federal safe drinking water standards and provide water to aid in extinguishing structural fires to the properties they serve — not to serve as wildfire suppression systems. Designing water infrastructure to function as wildfire defense systems would be physically impracticable, financially infeasible and could compromise drinking water quality and affordability.

At the same time, proactive planning is essential. SB 1153 requires urban retail water suppliers serving high or very high fire hazard severity zones to incorporate incident-specific wildfire response procedures into existing disaster preparedness and emergency response plans. By improving planning while recognizing the physical and financial limits of water infrastructure, SB 1153 helps protect ratepayers, supports emergency response, and ensures the long-term reliability of California’s drinking water systems.

Competing Bill – AB 2013

AB 2013 would require water suppliers that service more than 100 customers in high-risk areas to prepare an emergency preparedness plan for response to red flag warnings, extreme weather events and other major power outages.

The bill would require the plans to include, among other elements, an assessment of the minimum water tank levels and minimum number and type of water pumps necessary to provide an adequate water supply for firefighting activities.

AB 2013 misrepresents the role of public water systems during wildfires, fails to account for the operational realities and complexities of water systems, and could subject water suppliers to increased legal liability after a wildfire.

Questions

For questions about SB 1153 or AB 2013, please contact ACWA State Relations Advocate Kylie Wright at (916) 669-2382.

ACWA-Sponsored Proposition 218 Rate-Setting Legislation Scheduled for Hearing

ACWA is urging members to join a coalition and attend a legislative hearing March 25 to support AB 2180 (Ward), which would clarify how water agencies comply with Proposition 218 when setting water rates. This clarification will provide predictability for agencies, support California’s water-use conservation goals and help minimize unnecessary legal disputes over water rates.

A fact sheet is available for more information on the bill.

Take Action Now

1. Join ACWA’s coalition by completing a short online form. Agencies that join the coalition by March 18 will be included in a letter to the Assembly Local Government Committee that will be submitted March 19.
2. Attend the committee hearing. ACWA is asking members to testify in person at the Assembly Local Government Committee on March 25 in support of the bill. The hearing is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. in the State Capitol, Room 447.

Background

Since the passage of Proposition 218 in 1996, public water agencies have been required to ensure that rates do not exceed the proportional cost of service attributable to each parcel. Agencies typically engage independent experts and rely on rigorous cost-of-service studies to meet this constitutional standard.

Despite these efforts, high-volume water users have continued to challenge rate structures in court. Recent appellate court decisions have created uncertainty about how agencies must demonstrate proportionality — particularly for tiered rates. The most recent decision, Dreher v. LADWP, provides a framework that aligns with longstanding industry practice. AB 2180 would codify that framework into statute to ensure clear, consistent standards for agencies statewide.

Providing this clarification will help agencies confidently develop constitutionally sound rates while continuing to deliver safe and reliable water service to their communities.

Questions

For questions about AB 2180, please contact ACWA Senior State Relations Advocate Soren Nelson at (916) 669-2367.

Join Coalition Supporting ACWA-Sponsored Proposition 218 Rate-Setting Legislation

ACWA is urging members to join a coalition to support AB 2180, which would clarify how water agencies comply with Proposition 218 when setting water rates. This clarification will provide predictability for agencies, support California’s water-use conservation goals and help minimize unnecessary legal disputes over water rates.

Recent appellate court decisions have created uncertainty about how agencies must demonstrate proportionality — particularly for tiered rates. AB 2180, authored by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego), would codify the framework established in Dreher v. LADWP and affirm that:

• Costs related to water supplies, infrastructure, and system-wide peak demand may be allocated using reasonable methodologies without tracing specific water sources to individual parcels.
• Agencies may use any reasonable method, supported by existing or projected data, to allocate service costs.
• Agencies are not required to determine the exact cost of service for each parcel.
• Uniform and tiered rate structures are permissible when based on reasonable cost allocation principles.

Take Action Now

Join the ACWA coalition by completing a short online form. ACWA staff is working closely with the author’s office to gain support for the bill and will notify coalition members when it is scheduled for committee hearings.

Background

Since the passage of Proposition 218 in 1996, public water agencies have been required to ensure that rates do not exceed the proportional cost of service attributable to each parcel. Agencies typically engage independent experts and rely on rigorous cost-of-service studies to meet this constitutional standard.

Despite these efforts, high-volume water users have continued to challenge rate structures in court. Since July 2024, multiple appellate decisions have issued opinions that appear to conflict or create uncertainty about how proportionality must be demonstrated.

The most recent decision, Dreher v. LADWP, provides a framework that aligns with longstanding industry practice. AB 2180 would codify that framework into statute to ensure clear, consistent standards for agencies statewide.

Providing this clarification will help agencies confidently develop constitutionally sound rates while continuing to deliver safe and reliable water service to their communities.

Questions

For questions about AB 2180, please contact ACWA Senior State Relations Advocate Soren Nelson at (916) 669-2367.

Join Coalition Supporting ACWA-Sponsored Water Systems and Wildfire Preparedness Bill

ACWA is urging members to join a coalition to support ACWA-sponsored SB 1153, authored by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced), which would clarify the limited role of public water systems during wildfires while strengthening emergency preparedness in high-risk areas.

Public water systems are designed and constructed to provide safe, reliable drinking water, not to serve as wildfire defense or suppression systems. While water agencies often aid firefighting efforts, it would be physically impracticable and financially infeasible to design water systems to function as wildfire suppression infrastructure.

How Would the Bill Help?

The bill would specifically:

• Establish that limitations in water supply or water pressure during a wildfire are not a substantial cause of wildfire damages.
• Clarify that wildfire spread is not an inherent risk of the design, construction, or maintenance of a public water system.
• Make key findings and declarations regarding the role and limitations of public water systems in responding to wildfires.
• Require urban retail water suppliers serving high or very high fire hazard severity zones to include wildfire-specific response procedures in their emergency response plans beginning Jan. 1, 2028.

Take Action Now

Join the ACWA coalition in support of SB 1153 by completing a short online form. The more member agencies that join the coalition, the stronger the message ACWA can send to the Legislature.

Background

Wildfires are increasing in frequency, severity and destructive impact across California. Public water systems continue to be vulnerable to wildfire-related impacts, including infrastructure damage, power disruptions, water quality degradation and excessive or uncontrolled water demands.

While water systems may be available to aid firefighting activities, they are intentionally designed to meet state and federal safe drinking water standards and provide water to aid in extinguishing structural fires to the properties they serve — not to serve as wildfire suppression systems. Designing water infrastructure to function as wildfire defense systems would be physically impracticable, financially infeasible and could compromise drinking water quality and affordability.

At the same time, proactive planning is essential. SB 1153 requires urban retail water suppliers serving high or very high fire hazard severity zones to incorporate incident-specific wildfire response procedures into their existing disaster preparedness and emergency response plans.

By improving wildfire planning and resilience while recognizing the physical and financial limits of water infrastructure, SB 1153 helps protect ratepayers, supports emergency response, and ensures the long-term reliability of California’s drinking water systems.

Questions

For questions about SB 1153, please contact ACWA State Relations Advocate Kylie Wright at (916) 669-2382.

Members Urged to Support Trailer Bill on CEQA Exemptions with Two-Year Sunset

ACWA is urging member agencies to sign a coalition letter by this Friday, Aug. 22, and contact their legislators to support Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed Water Quality Control Plans – CEQA Exemption trailer bill, with the inclusion of an amendment that adds a two-year sunset.

The Legislature has delayed introduction of this critical trailer bill. Gov. Newsom’s proposal is intended to help advance the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) Program as the new path forward for Bay-Delta water management. Approval of the trailer bill with a two-year sunset would facilitate approval of the HRL Program and allow implementation of the HRL Program during this administration.

What’s at Stake

A limited CEQA exemption would help clear a backlog of current processes toward approving plans that have already been well-studied and subject to significant public input to proceed without further delay.

ACWA appreciates the Newsom Administration’s ongoing efforts over the past several years to streamline and expedite regulatory processes to advance water infrastructure and modernize water management across California.

Take Action Now

1. Sign ACWA’s letter. ACWA and a coalition that includes the State Water Contractors and Northern California Water Association are submitting a letter to legislative leadership. To include your agency’s logo on the letter, complete this online form.

2. Contact your legislators today. Express your agency’s support for the Legislature to advance a Water Quality Control Plans – CEQA Exemption trailer bill this year. Express support for the proposed trailer bill as a pilot program to advance actions that are presumed to benefit the environment and recommend including a two-year sunset.

Assembly member contact information is available on the Assembly’s website. State senator contact information is available on the Senate’s website.

Questions

For questions about the trailer bill, please contact ACWA State Regulatory Relations Director Chelsea Haines at (916) 206-4078.

Members Urged to Contact Legislators to Implement Prop. 4 Spending Plan

ACWA is urging member agencies to sign a coalition letter and contact their legislators in support of a spending plan for Proposition 4, the $10 billion climate resilience bond approved by voters last year.

The Legislature has delayed implementation of this critical funding despite shovel-ready projects waiting on funding to move forward. If a spending plan isn’t approved by Sept. 12, it will be delayed until the 2026 Legislative Session.

What’s at Stake

Proposition 4 includes $2.91 billion in funding for nine water-related categories. By law, the Legislature must approve a spending plan in order for state agencies to begin the grant solicitation process.

This bond funding is a critical tool for public agencies to implement crucial projects in their communities. In some cases, delaying implementation of the funding could cause vital infrastructure projects to also be delayed.

Take Action Now

1. Contact your legislators today. Express your agency’s support for the Legislature to implement a Prop. 4 spending plan this year. Share information about your agency’s infrastructure projects that could be eligible for bond funding and how they will benefit the community.

Assembly member contact information is available on the Assembly’s website. State senator contact information is available on the Senate’s website.

If you send a letter to legislators, please share a copy with ACWA by emailing outreach@acwa.com.

2. Sign ACWA’s letter. To include your agency’s logo on ACWA’s letter, complete this online form by Wednesday at noon.

Questions

For questions about implementation of Proposition 4, please contact ACWA State Legislative Director Julia Hall at (530) 902-9746.