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AB-2728 • 2026

Open and Transparent Water Data Act.

Open and Transparent Water Data Act.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Soria
Last action
2026-04-15
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on penalties or consequences if the August 1, 2027 deadline is missed.

Open and Transparent Water Data Act

The Open and Transparent Water Data Act requires California's Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board, and other agencies to coordinate on a statewide water data platform that integrates existing water and ecological data.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Water Resources to improve management actions related to water resources by integrating existing data.
  • Creates a statewide integrated water data platform in consultation with relevant agencies.
  • Makes sure this platform includes specific details like fish hatchery production, release, and escapement numbers by August 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Water Resources
  • State Water Resources Control Board
  • Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • California Water Quality Monitoring Council

Terms To Know

water data platform
A system that collects, organizes, and shares information about water resources.
ecological data
Information about plants, animals, and their environment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the agencies do not meet the August 1, 2027 deadline.
  • It is unclear how much it will cost to create and maintain the water data platform.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-03-23 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.

  3. 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.

  4. 2026-03-19 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.

  5. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  6. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2728, as amended, Soria.
Water delivery infrastructure.
Open and Transparent Water Data Act.
Existing law, the Open and Transparent Water Data Act, requires the Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to coordinate and integrate existing water and ecological data from local, state, and federal agencies for specified purposes, including, among others, improving the management of the state’s water resources.
This bill would specify for purposes of that provision that improving the management of the state’s water resources includes improving the efficacy of management actions.
The act requires the Department of Water Resources, in consultation with the California Water Quality Monitoring Council, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, in accordance with a specified schedule, to create, operate, and maintain a statewide integrated water data platform that, among other things, integrates existing water and ecological data information from multiple databases.
This bill would require, by August 1, 2027, the Department of Water Resources to make available on the platform specified information from state and federal agencies, including information on hatchery production, release, and escapement.
Existing law declares that California’s water infrastructure continues to age and deteriorate and safeguarding California’s supply of clean and safe water for homes, businesses, and farms is an essential responsibility of government, and critical to protecting the quality of life for all Californians.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation related to water delivery infrastructure

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF