AB-2630 • 2026

Water diversion and use: adoption of regulations.

Agriculture Water

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Bennett
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on the exact nature of future regulations beyond their status as emergency regulations.

Water Use Rules: Adoption of Emergency Regulations

This law requires that all further water use regulations be made as emergency regulations until January 1, 2032.

What This Bill Does

Requires the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt future water use rules as emergency regulations.
Makes these emergency regulations stay in effect until revised by the board.
Exempts these emergency regulations from the California Environmental Quality Act.

Who It Names or Affects

The State Water Resources Control Board
People who divert or use water under permits, licenses, registrations, or certificates

Terms To Know

Emergency regulations: Rules that can be quickly made and put into effect without the usual process.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): A law that requires government agencies to consider environmental effects before making decisions.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens after January 1, 2032.
It is unclear how long the emergency regulations will be in place beyond this date.

Bill History

2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2026-03-26 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 8. Noes 4.) (March 24).
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and NAT. RES.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2630, as amended, Bennett.
Water diversion and use: adoption of regulations.
Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt regulations requiring measurement and reporting of water diversion and use by persons, including, among others, those authorized to appropriate water under a permit, a license, a registration for small domestic, small irrigation, or livestock stockpond use, or a certificate for livestock stockpond use. For the initial regulations, existing law requires that they be adopted as emergency regulations and provides that the emergency regulations remain in effect until revised by the state board. Existing law also exempts the initial regulations from the California Environmental Quality Act.
This bill would
require
require, until January 1, 2032,
that all further regulations adopted by the state board pursuant to these provisions be adopted as emergency regulations and remain in effect until revised by the state board, and would exempt them from the California Environmental Quality Act.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF