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AB-1044 • 2026

Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency Act.

Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency Act.

Land Water
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Macedo
Last action
Official status
Assembly - Died
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates this bill died on inactive file, meaning it did not become law despite passing both chambers.

Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency Act

This bill creates the Tulare Basin Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency to manage groundwater in a specific part of the Tule Subbasin and requires it to create a sustainability plan.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Tulare Basin Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency with initial boundaries that can be adjusted as specified.
  • Requires the agency to become a groundwater sustainability agency under state law for its portion of the Tule Subbasin.
  • Mandates the development and implementation of a groundwater sustainability plan within the agency's territory.
  • Sets up a 5-member board of directors with rules on how members and alternates are chosen.
  • Designates this new group as the exclusive local agency allowed to manage groundwater under state law in its area.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The newly created Tulare Basin Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency
  • Residents and landowners within the defined boundaries of the portion of the Tule Subbasin covered by the agency
  • The County of Tulare, which has new duties under this law

Terms To Know

Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA)
A local group created to manage and protect underground water supplies in a specific area.
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
State law that requires certain groundwater basins to be managed with long-term plans to prevent overuse.
Exclusive local agency
The only group legally allowed to manage a specific resource, in this case, groundwater, within its boundaries under state law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill states that no state reimbursement is required for costs created by the act but does not explain the reason.
  • The exact final boundaries of the agency are set initially but can be adjusted later as specified in the rules.
  • The text notes legislative findings about why a special statute is needed, but it does not list those specific reasons.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Assembly - Died

Official Summary Text

Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency Act.