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AB-1373 • 2026

Water quality: state certification.

Water quality: state certification.

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor
Soria
Last action
2026-01-22
Official status
Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Water Quality Certification Rules

This law would require public hearings and prohibit delegation of certification for hydroelectric facilities if requested within a certain timeframe.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the State Water Resources Control Board to hold a public hearing before issuing a water quality certification for a license to operate a hydroelectric facility, if requested by an applicant within 14 days after receiving an initial draft certification.
  • Prohibits the delegation of authority to issue certifications for licenses to operate hydroelectric facilities when a public hearing is requested on the draft certification.
  • Allows the State Water Resources Control Board to charge fees that cover costs related to implementing these new rules.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Applicants seeking federal licenses or permits for activities involving discharges into navigable waters, especially those related to hydroelectric facilities.
  • The State Water Resources Control Board and California regional water quality control boards.

Terms To Know

State certification
A requirement that must be met before a federal license or permit can be issued for activities affecting water quality.
Hydroelectric facility
A power plant that generates electricity using the force of falling water.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill was vetoed by the governor, but it is unclear if lawmakers will override this veto.
  • It does not specify what happens if a state fails to act on certification requests within one year as required by federal law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-22 California Legislative Information

    Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.

  2. 2025-10-11 California Legislative Information

    Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

  3. 2025-10-11 California Legislative Information

    Vetoed by Governor.

  4. 2025-09-24 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

  5. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 3421.).

  6. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  7. 2025-09-11 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2931.).

  8. 2025-09-09 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

  9. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  11. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).

  12. 2025-08-18 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Referred to suspense file.

  13. 2025-07-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  14. 2025-06-18 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on E.Q.

  15. 2025-06-04 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  16. 2025-06-03 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2017.)

  17. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  18. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  19. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).

  20. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)

  21. 2025-05-14 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  22. 2025-04-30 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  23. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

  24. 2025-04-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.

  25. 2025-03-25 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

  26. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.

  27. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

  28. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  29. 2025-02-22 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

  30. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1373, Soria.
Water quality: state certification.
Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. Under federal law, any applicant seeking a federal license or permit for an activity that may result in any discharge into the navigable waters of the United States is required to first seek a state water quality certification, as specified. The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act authorizes the state board to certify or provide a statement to a federal agency, as required pursuant to federal law, that there is reasonable assurance that an activity of any person subject to the jurisdiction of the state board will not reduce water quality below applicable standards. The federal act provides that if a state fails or
refuses to act on a request for this certification within a reasonable period of time, which shall not exceed one year after receipt of the request, then the state certification requirements are waived with respect to the federal application.
This bill would require the state board, if requested by the applicant within 14 days of an initial draft certification being issued, to hold a public hearing at least 21 days before taking action on an application for certification for a license to operate a hydroelectric facility, as provided. The bill would, if a public hearing is requested on the draft certification, prohibit the authority to issue a certification for a license to operate a hydroelectric facility from being delegated. The bill would
authorize the state board to include in its fee schedule for hydroelectric facility applicants an amount up to the reasonable costs incurred by the state board in implementing these provisions.

Current Bill Text

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