California Senate Bill 389 (SB 389) is a legislative effort to increase the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) authority over pre-1914 appropriative water rights and riparian water rights. Introduced by Senator Ben Allen (D-Redondo Beach) on February 9, 2023, the bill purports to “provide the State Water Board with more tools to determine whether senior water right claimants who assert riparian or pre-1914 appropriative rights have defensible ground for their diversion and use of water.” … SB 389 passed the Senate with amendments, then passed the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife with additional amendments and is currently pending before the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. Two other bills that likewise increase the State Water Board’s authority are pending before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water.