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AB-638 • 2026

Stormwater: uses: irrigation.

Stormwater: uses: irrigation.

Water
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Celeste Rodriguez
Last action
2025-08-29
Official status
In committee: Held under submission.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on how public agencies will use or implement these guidelines.

Using Stormwater for Irrigation

This law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to develop guidelines by December 1, 2026, for using stormwater to irrigate urban public lands and reduce drinking water usage.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the State Water Resources Control Board to create recommendations on how to capture and use stormwater for irrigation of urban public land.
  • The board must consider ways to save drinking water by using captured stormwater instead.
  • Recommendations should cover safety issues like germs and dirt in the stormwater.
  • Before finalizing its guidelines, the board has to ask people what they think about them.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The State Water Resources Control Board
  • Public agencies that manage urban public lands

Terms To Know

Stormwater
Rain and snowmelt that flows over land or streets.
Dry weather runoff
Water from activities like watering plants, washing cars, or cleaning sidewalks during dry periods.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the recommendations will be used after they are made.
  • It is unclear if there will be funding for implementing these guidelines.

Bill History

  1. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  2. 2025-08-18 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Referred to suspense file.

  3. 2025-07-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  4. 2025-07-03 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

  5. 2025-07-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on N.R. & W. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 2).

  6. 2025-06-11 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and N.R. & W.

  7. 2025-06-03 California Legislative Information

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

  8. 2025-06-02 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1904.)

  9. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

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

  11. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

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

  12. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

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

  13. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

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

  14. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  15. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  16. 2025-03-20 California Legislative Information

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

  17. 2025-03-19 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.

  18. 2025-03-03 California Legislative Information

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

  19. 2025-02-14 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.

  20. 2025-02-13 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 638, as amended, Celeste Rodriguez.
Stormwater: uses: irrigation.
Existing law, the Stormwater Resource Planning Act, authorizes one or more public agencies to develop a stormwater resource plan that meets certain standards to address the capture of stormwater, as defined, and dry weather runoff, as defined. The act requires the State Water Resources Control Board, by July 1, 2016, to establish guidance for purposes of the act.
This bill would require the board, by December 1, 2026, to develop recommendations for stormwater capture and use for the irrigation of urban public lands, as defined. The bill would require the recommendations to address, but not be limited to, opportunities for the use of captured stormwater for irrigation to offset the use of potable water, as specified, and recommendations for, among other things, pathogens and pathogen indicators and total suspended solids.
Prior to approving the recommendations, the bill would require the board to solicit and receive written public comment on proposed recommendations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF