AB-2322 • 2026

Water discharge: commercial, industrial, or institutional sites.

Budget Taxes

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Papan
Last action: 2026-05-27
Official status: Referred to Com. on E.Q.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on how the shortened notice period will impact public participation or specify if this change applies only to certain types of water appropriation applications.

Water Discharge Rules for Businesses

This law changes the notice period to 15 days before a hearing for unprotested water appropriation applications and defines 'commercial, industrial, or institutional site' based on local tax records.

What This Bill Does

Defines a 'commercial, industrial, or institutional site' as privately owned land used for business, industry, or institutions based on the appropriate county tax assessor land use codes.
Requires notice to be given by mail not less than 15 days before the date of a hearing for an unprotested application.

Who It Names or Affects

Businesses, industries, and institutions that need permits to discharge stormwater.
The State Water Resources Control Board responsible for issuing these notices.

Terms To Know

MS4: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
NPDES: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the shortened notice period will affect public participation in hearings.

Bill History

2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on E.Q.
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 53. Noes 17.)
2026-04-30 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-04-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 10. Noes 3.) (April 29).
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2322, as amended, Papan.
Appropriation of water: notice of hearing.
Water discharge: commercial, industrial, or institutional sites.
Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards prescribe waste discharge requirements for the discharge of stormwater by municipalities and industries in accordance with the federal national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit program, established by the federal Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. Under existing law, the state board and the 9 regional water quality control boards issue permits for the discharge of stormwater from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s).
For purposes of issuing permits for the discharge of stormwater from MS4s, this bill define “commercial, industrial, or institutional site” or “CII
site” as a privately owned parcel or contiguous parcels of land that are commercial, industrial, or institutional based on the appropriate county tax assessor land use codes, as specified.
Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to act upon all applications for a permit to appropriate water. Existing law establishes various requirements for a notice regarding an application received by the board, including, among other requirements, that notice be given by mail not less than 20 days before the date of a hearing for an unprotested application.
This bill would require notice to be given by mail not less than 15 days before the date of a hearing for an unprotested application.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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