Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday that aims to increase the use of recycled water throughout the state. Senate Bill 31 by Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, allows businesses, homes and government agencies to increase their use of recycled water. … The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026 and will allow parks to expand the use of recycled water, will reduce restrictions for using it on decorative bodies of water, will protect homeowners’ associations from having to install new plumbing systems when using recycled water and will allow food handling and processing companies to use it for toilets and urinals or for outdoor irrigation under certain conditions.

Other water policy news around the West:

• Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.): Calif. Gov. vetoes Senator Padilla’s Salton Sea bill
• The Hill: Newsom vetoes bill banning forever chemicals in cookware
• The Sum & Substance (Denver, Colo.): Colorado regulators approve new fees, streamlining for clean-water permit seekers
• The Desert Review (Brawley, Calif.): Commentary: From the Salton Sea to Sacramento: What AB 531 means for Imperial County
• Western Farm Press: Commentary: Newsom signs bill setting water-supply targets. Will it help farmers?