Bill > AB568

This bill creates the Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency (TEGSA), a specialized local agency in Tulare County designed to manage groundwater resources within a specific portion of the Tule Subbasin in California. The agency will be governed by a five-member board consisting of representatives from Hope Water District, Ducor Water District, Tulare County, and two agricultural representatives selected by the other board members. The initial boundaries of the agency will include specific areas within Hope and Ducor Water Districts and parts of the Tule Subbasin east of certain irrigation district boundaries. Under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, TEGSA will be authorized to develop and implement a groundwater sustainability plan, impose fees, conduct investigations, and exercise powers to manage and protect groundwater resources. The bill specifically notes that the agency must coordinate with other local agencies in the subbasin and cannot impose more restrictive regulations on operators with supplemental water. The legislation is deemed necessary due to the unique groundwater management needs of this specific region, and it provides a detailed framework for the agency's establishment, governance, and operational powers, while ensuring consistency with existing state groundwater management laws.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB568