AB 2125 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Groundwater basin adjudication: notice.

Summary

Existing law requires a plaintiff who files an action to comprehensively determine rights to extract groundwater from a basin to provide the court a draft notice of commencement of groundwater basin adjudication and a draft form answer to adjudication complaint, as specified. Existing law also requires a plaintiff to file, within a specified timeframe, a motion for approval of the draft notice and draft form answer. Under existing law, once the court approves the draft notice, the plaintiff is required to serve the notice, as specified. Following a court order approving both the notice and draft form answer and authorizing service thereof, existing law requires the plaintiff to take additional steps to provide notice to defendants including, but not limited to, mailing, by registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, the notice, complaint, and form answer to all holders of fee title to real property in the basin. Under existing law, if a return receipt is not received for a parcel of real property, the plaintiff must post a copy of the notice, complaint, and form answer in a conspicuous place on the real property. After completing these notice procedures, existing law requires the plaintiff to file a notice of completion of the mailing with the court. Existing law permits a court to authorize any other procedures it finds appropriate and necessary to provide notice to persons who may hold groundwater rights in basin. This bill would impose additional requirements on a plaintiff when filing the notice of completion of mailing. The bill would require the plaintiff to include with the notice of completion an affidavit of the person who mailed the notice and the certified or registered mail delivery receipt for each parcel stating the date, time, and place of mailing. The bill would further require the notice to include as an attachment any certified or registered mail delivery receipts received as of the date of the filing. If a return receipt is not received for a parcel of real property, the bill would require the plaintiff to also include with the notice of completion an affidavit of the person who posted the notice specifying the date, time, and physical location of each parcel where the posting occurred, accompanied by a photograph depicting the posted notice. The bill would clarify that the court may authorize additional procedures necessary to provide notice to persons who may hold groundwater rights in basin, including, but not limited to, requiring the plaintiff to utilize restricted delivery of all mailed notices.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Aug 2026

Signed into Law

Aug 2026

Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Signed Aug 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

08/27/26 - Chaptered → AB2125 · 1 edit

MINOR

This diff reflects a change in document format rather than a change in legislative content. The bill text moved from a formatted chaptered document (the enrolled/chaptered version) to a web-based bill display page on the California legislature website. All substantive provisions of Section 836 of the Code of Civil Procedure remain identical between the two versions.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted from a chaptered legislative document into a web page layout, adding navigation elements (skip to content, home, accessibility, FAQ, sitemap, login), bill tracking metadata (version history, votes, status links), and a digest key section. No changes were made to the actual statutory language.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 10, 2026 · Assembly May 11, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

Aug 10, 2026

D Democratic30

30 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican10

9 Yea 1

90% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 27, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor.

legislature

Aug 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

lower

Aug 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).

upper

Jul 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1).

upper

Jun 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on N.R. & W. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

upper

May 20, 2026

Committee

Referred to Coms. on JUD. and N.R. & W.

upper

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 4994.)

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 24).

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

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

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on JUD.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors