AB 2215 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Water rights: permits: State Water Project.

Summary

The Department of Water Resources operates the State Water Resources Development System, commonly referred to as the State Water Project. Existing law requires that construction work for a project that will put appropriated water to beneficial use be commenced, prosecuted with due diligence, and completed within the time period specified in the water right permit. Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to extend the deadline specified in the permit to commence or complete construction work and to put appropriated water to beneficial use for good cause shown. This bill would require that the time periods for the application of water to beneficial use and for the completion of construction work for specific water right permits held by the Department of Water Resources for the operation of the State Water Project be December 31, 2046.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Jul 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 19, 2026 Last action Jul 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/16/26 - Amended Assembly → AB2215 · 1 edit

MINOR

The deadline for completing construction work and putting water to beneficial use under State Water Project permits 16477 through 16482 was shortened from December 31, 2085 to December 31, 2046, a reduction of 39 years. This change appears in the amendment markup within the bill text (shown as '2085. 2046' indicating the old date struck and new date inserted). The remainder of the diff reflects a format change from a traditional legislative document layout to a web page presentation, with no additional substantive policy changes.

TIMELINE

The deadline for application of water to beneficial use and completion of construction work under State Water Project permits 16477-16482 was changed from December 31, 2085 to December 31, 2046, shortening the allowed period by 39 years.

03/19/26 - Amended Assembly → 04/16/26 - Amended Assembly · 4 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MODERATE

The April amendment makes three major changes: it shortens the deadline for State Water Project water right permits from December 31, 2085 to December 31, 2046 (a 39-year reduction), removes a nonsubstantive provision that renamed the Urban Water Management Planning Act, and adds an extensive set of legislative findings justifying the extension based on climate change impacts and modernization needs. The bill now also requires fiscal committee review.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed by removing the Urban Water Management Planning Act naming provision, making it solely focused on extending State Water Project water right permit deadlines. The substantive deadline was also significantly shortened from 2085 to 2046.

TIMELINE

The deadline for application of water to beneficial use and completion of construction work under State Water Project permits 16477-16482 was shortened from December 31, 2085 to December 31, 2046, reducing the allowed time by 39 years.

SCOPE

The provision amending Water Code Section 10610 to formally name that part of the code the 'Urban Water Management Planning Act' was removed entirely. This was a nonsubstantive naming change with no policy effect.

REQUIREMENT

A new Section 1 containing legislative findings and declarations was added, stating that the State Water Project serves 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland, that climate change has caused unprecedented challenges, and that modernization efforts including a North Bay Aqueduct Project, additional water storage south of the Delta, and the Delta Conveyance Project require the time extension. The findings also state this does not set a precedent for other permits and that the State Water Resources Control Board retains full enforcement authority.

ENFORCEMENT

The bill now requires fiscal committee review (changed from 'no' to 'yes'), indicating the amendment triggered a fiscal impact assessment requirement.

Floor votes · Assembly May 27, 2026

How they voted

58–1

Passed · 20 other

Total votes 79

May 27, 2026

D Democratic59

44 Yea 15

74% Yea

R Republican20

14 Yea 1 Nay 5

70% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

upper

Jun 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

upper

May 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 59. Noes 1.)

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (April 29).

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 11. Noes 0.) (April 14).

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 Com. on W., P., & W.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

lower

1 primary · 12 co-sponsors