Bill > AB568

This bill establishes the Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency (TEGSA) in Tulare County, California, as a specialized local agency designed to manage groundwater resources within a specific portion of the Tule Subbasin. 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 (including at least one representing socially disadvantaged farmers), with each member having an alternate. The agency will have the power to develop and implement a groundwater sustainability plan, conduct technical investigations, impose fees on groundwater extraction, and coordinate with other local agencies to manage groundwater resources. Its initial boundaries include specific areas within Tulare County, and the agency is authorized to adjust these boundaries through a public hearing process. The bill is part of California's broader Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires high- and medium-priority groundwater basins to be managed through comprehensive sustainability plans. The legislation specifically creates this agency to address unique groundwater management needs in the Tule Subbasin, recognizing the critical importance of preserving and responsibly managing groundwater resources in the region.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice

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