AB-639 • 2026

Dams: exceptions.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Soria
Last action: 2025-10-11
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 617, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify the exact number or names of the weirs that are excluded from being considered dams.

Dams: Exceptions

This law adds new exceptions for certain barriers that do not count as dams, specifically defining them as weirs with specific criteria.

What This Bill Does

Adds more types of barriers to the list of things that do not count as dams.
Defines these added exceptions as weirs that must meet specific criteria like having at least 3 feet of freeboard above a levee and not holding water over it, but only applies to certain named weirs.

Who It Names or Affects

People who build or own barriers that are now excluded from being called dams.
The Department of Water Resources, which supervises dam-related activities.

Terms To Know

weir: A barrier in a water channel that controls the flow and level of water.
freeboard: The extra space above a levee or dam to prevent overflow during floods.

Limits and Unknowns

This law only applies to specific weirs named in the bill.
It does not change how other dams are defined or supervised.

Bill History

2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 617, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2918.).
2025-09-03 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 1. Page 2427.).
2025-06-24 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-06-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
2025-06-11 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 10).
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 1175.)
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 9).
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-03-27 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (March 25).
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on W. P., & W.
2025-02-14 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
2025-02-13 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 639, Soria.
Dams: exceptions.
Existing law defines a dam to mean any artificial barrier, together with appurtenant works, that does or may impound or divert water, and meets other specified criteria. Existing law excludes from the definition a barrier that is or will be not in excess of 6 feet in height, regardless of storage capacity, or that has or will have a storage capacity not in excess of 15 acre-feet, regardless of height. Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to supervise the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, maintenance, operation, and removal of dams and reservoirs for the protection of life and property.
This bill would additionally exclude from the definition of a dam a barrier that does not impound water above the top of a levee where maximum storage behind the barrier has a minimum of 3 feet of freeboard on the levee and is a
weir, as defined, but would apply only to specified weirs named in the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF