AB 2032 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Fish and wildlife: invasive mussels: golden mussels.

Summary

(1) Existing law, until January 1, 2030, generally prohibits a person from possessing, importing, shipping, or transporting in the state, or from placing, planting, or causing to be placed or planted in any water within the state, invasive mussels, as defined. Existing law requires a public or private agency that operates a water supply system to cooperate with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (department) to implement measures to avoid infestation by invasive mussels and to control or eradicate any infestation that may occur in a water supply system, and, if invasive mussels are detected, to prepare and implement a plan, as specified, to control or eradicate invasive mussels within the system (control plan) . Existing law prohibits the importation, transportation, possession, or live release of specified wild animals, except under a revocable, nontransferable permit, known as a restricted species permit, issued by the department, in cooperation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, and only if certain requirements are met. This bill would exempt from the requirement to obtain a restricted species permit for invasive mussels a public or private agency that operates a water supply system and has submitted a control plan to the department for maintenance, operational, and research activities within the water supply system, as specified. The bill would exempt from the requirement to obtain a restricted species permit for dead invasive mussels a public or private agency that operates a water supply system and has submitted a control plan to the department for research, outreach, education, species verification, training, or other purposes deemed by the department to be in the best interest of the state. The bill would provide that these exemptions remain in effect for a particular public or private agency until the department determines the agency's control plan does not meet the statutory requirements for control plans or approves the control plan. This bill would require the department's Invasive Species Program to develop, by April 1, 2027, voluntary guidance for public and private agencies that operate water supply systems to develop effective control plans. The bill would also require the department's Invasive Species Program to develop and publish, by April 1, 2027, guidance for scientific research conducted by or for public and private agencies that operate water supply systems to prevent and control the spread of invasive mussels, as specified. This bill would require the department to update the spatial distribution maps of invasive mussel-infested water bodies posted on its internet website no less than quarterly based on monitoring and reported detections, as prescribed. (2) Existing law requires every manufacturer of, importer of, or dealer in any pesticide, except as specified, to obtain a certificate of registration from the Department of Pesticide Regulation before the pesticide is offered for sale. Existing law requires the Director of Pesticide Regulation to endeavor to eliminate from use in the state specified pesticides, and in carrying out this responsibility, to develop an orderly program for the continuous evaluation of all pesticides actually registered, as specified. Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards regulate water quality and prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and the national pollutant discharge elimination system permit program. This bill would require, in response to an invasive species threat, including, but not limited to, the threat of golden mussels, the department, state board, and regional boards to work with state and local agencies in order to quickly and efficiently respond to the threat. The bill would require the department and state board to identify any tools available to assist a state or local agency in rapidly responding to the invasive species threat and to help identify any existing processes that allow for the rapid use of any tool that could be used to address the invasive species threat and enables a streamlined or faster administrative or procedural process. The bill would require the state board, if necessary, to help coordinate efforts between the regional boards in response to a threat of an invasive species. (3) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Aug 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2026 Last action Aug 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons

What changed between versions

03/19/26 - Amended Assembly → 04/16/26 - Amended Assembly · 11 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MAJOR

The April 16 amendment substantially restructures AB 2032's approach to golden mussel response. The permit exemption in Section 2150.6 now requires agencies to have submitted a control plan before qualifying, and the research exemption expands to cover restricted species permits but terminates once a control plan is submitted. Sections 12824.1 and 13371 are rewritten from narrow permit-expediting provisions into broader rapid-response coordination mandates for invasive species generally. The bill also adds an urgency clause requiring a two-thirds vote and immediate effect upon passage.

ELIGIBILITY

Section 2150.6 now requires a water supply agency to have submitted a control plan (pursuant to Section 2301(d)) before it qualifies for the permit exemption, and activities must be conducted in accordance with that plan. The exemption is also narrowed to golden mussels specifically rather than all permits under the chapter.

The streamlined project proposal process in Section 2301.5(b)(2) is now limited to agencies that do not have an approved control plan, and the proposal must comply with the department's scientific research guidance. For agencies not submitting a proposal, the guidance is voluntary.

The scientific research exemption in Section 2301.5(b)(4) now covers both scientific collecting permits AND restricted species permits for golden mussels under Section 2150 (previously only scientific collecting permits). A new subdivision (4) terminates this exemption upon the agency's submission of a control plan.

REQUIREMENT

New subdivision (b) of Section 2150.6 provides that the permit exemption remains in effect until the department either determines the agency's control plan does not meet statutory requirements or approves the control plan, creating a defined endpoint for the exemption.

SCOPE

Section 2301.5(a)(1) changes best management practices from 'develop and adopt' to simply 'develop,' and explicitly states that other than the statutory control plan requirements contained in the guidance, compliance is voluntary. The guidance must now include relevant protocols, example standards, and statutory requirements of a control plan.

Section 12824.1 (Food and Agricultural Code) is completely rewritten. It no longer requires expediting pesticide evaluations for golden mussel treatments. Instead, it requires the department to work with state and local agencies to quickly respond to invasive species threats broadly, identify available tools (strategies, integrated pest management, registered pesticides), and help identify existing processes enabling rapid use of those tools.

Section 13371 (Water Code) is completely rewritten. It no longer requires expediting NPDES permit processing with specific methods listed. Instead, it requires the state and regional boards to work with state and local agencies for rapid response to invasive species threats, identify available tools, help identify streamlined processes, and coordinate between regional boards as necessary.

Legislative findings are updated to specify that golden mussels have been detected throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and in the southern portion of the State Water Project, and a new finding notes they have established robust populations throughout the Delta. The legislative intent language shifts from 'streamline and expedite permitting' to 'align permitting processes to better support rapid response.'

TIMELINE

A new Section 6 declares the bill an urgency statute that takes immediate effect upon passage, citing the serious threat golden mussels pose to water infrastructure. This changes the vote requirement from a simple majority to two-thirds of each house.

FISCAL

The fiscal committee designation changes from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now has identified fiscal implications requiring fiscal committee review.

TECHNICAL

The amendment to Section 2151 of the Fish and Game Code (nonsubstantive changes to the written application provision for restricted species permits) is removed from the bill entirely.

04/16/26 - Amended Assembly → 05/18/26 - Amended Assembly · 7 edits · May 18, 2026

MODERATE

The May amendment significantly narrows the bill's regulatory reach by removing specific expedite mandates for pesticide evaluations and NPDES permits, replacing them with broader but less binding rapid-response coordination language. It also eliminates the Golden Mussel Task Force as an intermediary body, removes the Task Force participation condition from the scientific research permit exemption, and reframes guidance requirements around developing control plans rather than interim best management practices.

SCOPE

Removed Section 12824.1's requirement that the department expedite pesticide evaluations specifically for golden mussel chemical treatments. Replaced with a general mandate to identify tools and existing processes for rapid response to any invasive species threat.

Removed Section 13371's requirement that the state board and regional boards expedite NPDES permit processing for golden mussel control, including specific mechanisms like emergency procedures with shortened timelines. Replaced with a general mandate to identify tools, existing processes, and coordinate between regional boards in response to invasive species threats.

Legislative findings removed references to permit backlogs, the extensive number of permits required, and CEQA exemptions. Changed the stated intent from 'streamline and expedite permitting' to 'align permitting processes,' reflecting a less aggressive regulatory posture.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the Golden Mussel Task Force as the body responsible for developing guidance. The department's Invasive Species Program now develops guidance directly without an intermediary task force structure.

Added a requirement that the scientific research guidance be published on the department's internet website by April 1, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the condition that a public or private agency must participate in the Golden Mussel Task Force to qualify for the scientific collecting and restricted species permit exemption. The exemption now applies automatically to research described in a qualifying project proposal.

DEFINITION

Changed the first guidance requirement from 'best management practices' for controlling golden mussels until control plans are approved, to guidance specifically for developing effective control plans under Section 2301(d). This shifts the purpose from interim operational guidance to plan-development assistance.

02/17/26 - Introduced → 03/19/26 - Amended Assembly · 8 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MODERATE

AB 2032 was dramatically expanded from a minor nonsubstantive fix to restricted species permit application language into a comprehensive golden mussel emergency response bill. The amended version adds legislative findings declaring golden mussels an emerging crisis, creates permit exemptions for water supply agencies, mandates best management practices and research guidance by April 1, 2027, and requires expedited processing of pesticide evaluations and NPDES permits related to golden mussel control across three different state codes.

Scope change

The bill expanded from a single-code, nonsubstantive technical fix in the Fish and Game Code to a multi-code emergency response framework spanning the Fish and Game Code, Food and Agricultural Code, and Water Code, with the stated purpose of supporting water supply agencies in combating golden mussels and streamlining related permitting processes.

SCOPE

Added legislative findings and declarations establishing golden mussels as an emergency threat to water infrastructure, justifying streamlined permitting and rapid response measures.

ELIGIBILITY

New Section 2150.6 of the Fish and Game Code exempts public and private agencies operating water supply systems from permit requirements for maintenance and operational activities to control golden mussels, including removing them from pipes, screens, filters, and other infrastructure.

Scientific research to control golden mussels conducted by or for water supply agencies is exempt from scientific collecting permits under Section 1002 if the agency participates in the Golden Mussel Task Force, as determined by the department.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 2301.5 requires the department's Invasive Species Program, through a Golden Mussel Task Force, to develop and adopt best management practices for water supply agencies by April 1, 2027, and to adopt guidance for scientific research on golden mussels by the same date.

The department must update spatial distribution maps of golden mussel-infested water bodies on its website no less than quarterly, distinguishing between reported and confirmed detections.

TIMELINE

New Section 12824.1 of the Food and Agricultural Code requires the Department of Pesticide Regulation to expedite evaluation of pesticides that are chemical treatments effective against golden mussels in water supply systems, including leveraging prior evaluations for similar subsequent ones.

New Section 13371 of the Water Code requires state and regional water boards to expedite NPDES permit processing for water supply agencies controlling golden mussels, including assisting with preparation, allowing coordinated submissions, leveraging prior permits, and using emergency procedures with shortened timelines.

TECHNICAL

The original nonsubstantive amendment to Section 2151 (restricted species permit application language) is retained but renumbered as a separate section at the end of the bill rather than being the sole content.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 30, 2026 · Assembly May 27, 2026

How they voted

40–0

Passed

Total votes 40

Aug 30, 2026

D Democratic30

30 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican10

10 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 30, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (40-0)

senate

Aug 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.

lower

Aug 30, 2026

Introduced

In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

lower

Aug 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly.

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

upper

Aug 3, 2026

Committee

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

upper

Jul 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

Jun 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

upper

Jun 11, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

upper

Jun 3, 2026

Committee

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

upper

May 27, 2026

Assembly · Passed

Assembly Vote: pass (77-0-2)

assembly

May 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.).

lower

May 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

May 14, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).

lower

May 13, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 14).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Committee

(Pending re-refer to Com. on E.S. & T.M.)

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and E.S & T.M.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors