Determination of water rights: stream system.

Budget

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Laird
Last action: 2025-10-06
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 422, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not define 'Riparian Right', so it was removed from the terms to know section.

Water Rights Determination: Stream System

This law modifies how the State Water Resources Control Board investigates and determines water rights for stream systems, including requirements for claimants to submit detailed reports about their water use.

What This Bill Does

Requires representatives of the board to investigate in detail the use of water during an investigation of a stream system.
Gives the board authority but no requirement to conduct a field investigation.
Authorizes the board to issue information orders if it finds that provided information is inadequate, requiring claimants to submit reports about their water use from the stream system through forms given by the board.
Requires claimants to respond to these orders within 75 days of issuance.
Applies procedures for reconsideration and amendment of decisions and orders issued during the investigation process.

Who It Names or Affects

The State Water Resources Control Board
Claimants who have water rights in stream systems

Terms To Know

Stream System: A network of connected rivers, streams, and other bodies of water.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify an effective date for the new requirements.
Does not provide details on how the board will determine if information is inadequate.
Does not address potential challenges in enforcing claimants to submit timely reports.

Bill History

2025-10-06 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 422, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-06 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 2410.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 66. Noes 0. Page 2793.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-08-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (August 20).
2025-07-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-03 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 1).
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on W. P., & W. and JUD.
2025-05-28 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 1. Page 1272.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-13 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-12 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
2025-05-02 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 12.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
May 5 hearing postponed by committee.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-25 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 5.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 837.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-03 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 22.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 532.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-12 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 25.
2025-03-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and JUD.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 697, Laird.
Determination of water rights: stream system.
(1) Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to hold proceedings to determine all rights to water of a stream system whether based upon appropriation, riparian right, or other basis of right. Existing law provides various requirements for the board when determining adjudication of water rights, including, among other things, performing a detailed field investigation of a stream system, as defined, issuing an order of determination, providing notice and a hearing process, and filing a final order.
This bill would revise the above-described provisions regarding the board’s statutory adjudication of water rights during an investigation of a stream system to, among other things, require representatives of the board to investigate in detail the use of water with the authority, but no requirement, to
conduct a field investigation, authorize the board, if the board determines that the information provided by the person, as specified, is inadequate, to issue information orders that require claimants to submit reports of water use from the stream system through a form provided by the board, and require claimants to respond to that order within 75 days of the date of issuance by the board.
(2) Existing law establishes procedures for reconsideration and amendment of specified decisions and orders of the board. Existing law authorizes any party aggrieved by a specified decision or order of the board to file, not later than 30 days from the date of final board action, a petition for writ of mandate for judicial review of the decision or order.
This bill would apply the procedures for reconsideration, amendment, and judicial review to decisions and orders of the board issued pursuant to the provisions
described above.

Current Bill Text

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