Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency Act.

Education Water

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Macedo
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: Died on inactive file.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not become law and thus has no effective date or further legislative action.

Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency Act

The Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency Act establishes the Tulare Basin Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency to manage groundwater in a specific area and requires it to develop plans for sustainable water use.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Tulare Basin Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
Establishes initial boundaries for the agency's territory.
Authorizes adjustments to the agency’s boundaries as needed.
Requires the agency to become a groundwater sustainability agency under state law and develop plans for sustainable water use.
Specifies the composition of the 5-member board of directors.

Who It Names or Affects

Local agencies in the Tule Subbasin area.
The County of Tulare.
Residents and businesses within the agency’s territory.

Terms To Know

Groundwater Sustainability Agency: An organization responsible for managing groundwater resources to ensure they are used sustainably.
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act: A state law that requires high- and medium-priority groundwater basins to be managed in a way that prevents long-term depletion of water supplies.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not become law because it died on inactive file.
It does not specify how the agency will fund its operations.
Details about adjustments to the agency’s boundaries are not fully explained in the summary.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Died on inactive file.
2025-06-09 California Legislative Information
Ordered to inactive file at the request of Assembly Member Macedo.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 1689.)
2025-05-15 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2025-03-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on W. P., & W. and L. GOV.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1044, as amended, Macedo.
Tulare Basin
Tule East
Groundwater Sustainability Agency Act.
Existing law, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. The act authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin. The act deems certain agencies created by statute to manage groundwater the exclusive local agencies within their respective statutory boundaries with powers to comply with the act and authorizes these agencies to opt out of being the exclusive groundwater management agency.
This bill would create the
Tulare Basin
Tule East
Groundwater Sustainability Agency and would establish the agency’s initial boundaries. The bill would authorize the boundaries of the agency to be adjusted, as specified. The bill would require the agency to elect to be a groundwater sustainability agency under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act for that portion of the Tule Subbasin that lies within the boundaries of the agency and would require the agency to develop and implement a groundwater sustainability plan to achieve sustainable groundwater management within the territory of the agency. The bill would generally specify the powers and purposes of the agency. The bill would prescribe the composition of the 5-member board of directors of the agency and would require members and alternates to be chosen, as specified. By imposing duties on the agency and the County of Tulare, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would deem the
Tulare Basin
Tule East
Groundwater Sustainability Agency the exclusive local agency with powers to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Tule Subbasin.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF