With California’s 2025–26 legislative session coming to a close this fall, it’s time to take stock of bill outcomes. While the legislature addressed hot-button issues during this session—including affordability, data centers, and wildfire—a number of bills that focused on significant natural resource issues did not make it to the governor’s desk or were not signed into law. … SB 872 would have created a dedicated fund for Delta levee and State Water Project conveyance repairs. The bill was vetoed, with the governor citing existing funding of more than $170 million. … And, though groundwater recharge has become an increasingly important water supply strategy for the state, it continues to face both legal and physical barriers. AB 2026 would have streamlined permitting for diverting floodwater underground. The bill did not pass the legislature.

Other water legislation news:

• The Washington Post: Opinion: The Senate passed a permitting reform bill. It threatens tribal sovereignty.
• Los Angeles Times: Newsletter: Water was finally on the ballot in Arizona
• The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.): Opinion: California lacks critical data on water supplies. Here’s why it must modernize its systems.
• Stocktonia (Stockton, Calif.): Opinion: Protecting California’s water from invasive golden mussels requires a unified state and federal response