SB 997 CA

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Became Law

Existing law, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. The act authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin. The act deems certain agencies created by statute to manage groundwater the exclusive local agencies within their respective statutory boundaries with powers to comply with the act and authorizes these agencies to opt out of being the exclusive groundwater management agency. Existing law establishes the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency, requires the agency to be a groundwater sustainability agency under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act for that portion of the Kings Subbasin that lies within the boundaries of the agency, and requires the agency to develop and implement a groundwater sustainability plan to achieve sustainable groundwater management within the territory of the agency. Existing law generally specifies the powers of the agency, including the power to impose fees, including, but not limited to, permit fees and fees on groundwater extraction or other regulated activity, to fund the costs of a groundwater sustainability program. This bill would authorize the agency to impose civil penalties on any person who extracts groundwater in excess of the amount that person is authorized to extract under a rule, regulation, ordinance, or resolution adopted by the agency. If any charges for water and other services imposed by the agency pursuant to its authority remain unpaid, the bill would authorize the amount of unpaid charges, in the discretion of the agency, to be secured at any time by filing for record in the office of the county recorder of any county a certificate specifying the amount of the charges and the name and address of the person liable for the charges. The bill would require that, from the time of recordation of the certificate, the amount required to be paid together with interest and penalties would constitute a lien upon all real property in the county owned by the person or afterwards, and before the lien expired, acquired by that person. The bill would require that the lien has the force, priority, and effect of a judgment lien, and that the lien shall continue for 10 years from the date of the filing of the certificate unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. The bill would also authorize the lien to be extended, as provided.

• Caballero Democratic · author

1. Feb 9, 2026 Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. · upper
2. Feb 10, 2026 From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 12. · upper
3. Feb 18, 2026 Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and JUD. · upper
4. Mar 11, 2026 Set for hearing March 24. · upper
5. Mar 12, 2026 March 24 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. · upper
6. Mar 24, 2026 Set for hearing April 7. · upper
7. Apr 8, 2026 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3758.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. · upper
8. Apr 9, 2026 Set for hearing April 21. · upper
9. Apr 9, 2026 April 21 hearing postponed by committee. · upper
10. Apr 10, 2026 Set for hearing April 28. · upper
11. Apr 29, 2026 From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 4084.) (April 28). · upper
12. Apr 30, 2026 Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading. · upper
13. May 18, 2026 Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4306.) Ordered to the Assembly. · upper
14. May 19, 2026 In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. · lower
15. May 26, 2026 Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and JUD. · lower
16. Jun 16, 2026 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. · lower
17. Jun 23, 2026 From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 23). · lower
18. Jun 24, 2026 Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. · lower
19. Jun 29, 2026 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. · lower
20. Jun 30, 2026 In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. · upper
21. Jul 7, 2026 Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. · legislature
22. Jul 13, 2026 Approved by the Governor. · legislature
23. Jul 13, 2026 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 86, Statutes of 2026. · legislature