SB-224 • 2026

Department of Water Resources: water supply forecasting.

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor: Hurtado
Last action: 2026-03-02
Official status: Veto sustained.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Water Supply Forecasting Update

This bill requires the Department of Water Resources to update its water supply forecasting models and report on their progress, focusing on climate change impacts.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Water Resources to update its water supply forecasting models by January 1, 2027, to address climate change effects.
Establishes formal policies for documenting operational plans and rationales for water releases from reservoirs.
Sets criteria on the department's website for when updated forecasting models are ready for use in different watersheds.
Requires annual reports starting January 1, 2028, detailing progress with new forecasting models and explaining operating procedures.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Water Resources
People who rely on water supply forecasts

Terms To Know

watersheds: Areas of land where all the water drains into a common outlet, such as a river or lake.
climate change: Long-term changes in weather patterns and temperatures around the world.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was vetoed by the governor on March 2, 2026.
It is unclear if lawmakers will override the veto.

Bill History

2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Veto sustained.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Stricken from file.
2025-10-03 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2025-10-03 California Legislative Information
Vetoed by the Governor.
2025-09-22 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2890.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 1. Page 3084.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-09-03 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-17 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 15).
2025-06-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on W. P., & W.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1513.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 1192.) (May 23).
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-04-07 California Legislative Information
April 7 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 7.
2025-03-26 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 531.) (March 25).
2025-03-12 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 25.
2025-03-11 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2025-02-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2025-01-28 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 27.
2025-01-27 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 224, Hurtado.
Department of Water Resources: water supply forecasting.
Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to gather and correlate information and data pertinent to an annual forecast of seasonal water crop. Existing law also requires the department to update every 5 years the plan for the orderly and coordinated control, protection, conservation, development, and use of the water resources of the state, which is known as “The California Water Plan.”
This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2027, to update its water supply forecasting models and procedures to address the effects of climate change and implement a formal policy and procedures for documenting the department’s operational plans and the department’s rationale for its operating procedures, including the department’s rationale for water releases from reservoirs. The bill would also require the department to
establish, and publish on the department’s internet website, the specific criteria that it will employ to determine when its updated water supply forecasting model has demonstrated sufficient predictive capability to be ready for use in each of the watersheds. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report on its progress toward implementing the new forecasting model and to post the report on the department’s internet website. The bill would also require the department, on or before January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report that explains the rationale for the department’s operating procedures specific to the previous water year.

Current Bill Text

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