Bill > AB35

This bill, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, makes changes to how state agencies can adopt rules and guidelines for programs funded by a $10 billion bond act approved by voters. Instead of following the usual lengthy process for creating regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which involves public notice, comment periods, and review by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL), this bill exempts the adoption of program guidelines and selection criteria for these bond-funded programs from the APA. However, state entities administering competitive grant programs funded by this act must still develop draft guidelines, allow for public comment, offer tribal consultation, and submit final guidelines to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency for verification and public posting online, with an exception for the State Water Resources Control Board. The bill also allows for the use of previously developed guidelines if they meet the act's requirements and declares itself an urgency statute to allow for the immediate implementation of these vital environmental and safety programs.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB35