SB-1085 • 2026

Water supply planning: housing developments.

Education Housing Taxes

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Durazo
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on the specific conditions under which cities and counties must identify public water systems.

Water Supply Planning for Housing Developments

The bill requires cities and counties to identify public water systems early in the housing development process and request assessments of water supply adequacy within a shorter timeframe.

What This Bill Does

Requires cities and counties to identify public water systems when they receive an application for a new housing project that meets certain conditions.
Requests these identified water systems to determine if the proposed project's water needs are included in their most recent urban water management plan, within 15 days of receiving the application.
Shortens the time limit for water supply assessments from 90 days to 45 days for housing development projects.
Allows cities and counties to use legal action to ensure public water systems comply with assessment requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

Cities and counties applying for housing developments
Public water systems providing water to proposed housing projects

Terms To Know

Urban Water Management Plan: A plan that outlines how a public water system will meet the current and future water needs of its customers.
Mandamus: A legal order to compel someone, such as a government official or agency, to perform their duties.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if public water systems do not comply with the new requirements.
It is unclear how this will affect existing housing development projects that are already in progress.

Bill History

2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 22).
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-04-10 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 22 in L. GOV. pending receipt.
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2026-04-02 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 14.
2026-03-24 California Legislative Information
March 24 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-03-11 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 24.
2026-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and L. GOV.
2026-02-17 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 16.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1085, as amended, Durazo.
Water supply planning: housing developments.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to be responsible for determining whether a project is exempt from CEQA and whether an environmental impact report, a negative declaration, or a mitigated negative declaration is required. Existing law requires a city or county that determines a certain type of project is subject to the requirements of CEQA to identify any public water system that may supply water for the project and to request those public water systems to prepare a specified water supply assessment, as provided.
This
bill
bill, among other things,
would instead require a city or county, upon receipt of a
preliminary application for a housing development project that meets certain conditions, or upon
deeming
a development application for certain projects
complete,
being determined as complete or deemed complete,
to make that identification of public water systems. The bill would require a city or county, within 15 days of receiving an application that meets either of the above-mentioned criteria, to request each identified public water system to determine whether the projected water demand associated with the proposed project was included in the most recently adopted urban water management plan. By imposing additional duties on a city or county, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires the governing body of each identified public water system to submit the requested water supply assessment not later than 90 days from the date that the request was received. Existing law requires that the assessment be approved at a regular or special meeting, as provided.
This bill would require, for certain housing development projects, a public water system to submit the requested water supply assessment to the city or county no later than 45 days from the date that the request was received. The bill would provide that those water supply assessments do not need to be approved at a public meeting. The bill would also authorize a city or county to seek a writ of mandamus to compel a public water system that fails to submit the water supply assessment to comply with the requirements relating to the submission of the water supply assessment.
The
California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF