Bill > AB2132

This bill proposes to exempt certain groundwater recharge projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which is a state law requiring government agencies to review and disclose the environmental impacts of projects they approve or carry out. Specifically, a groundwater recharge project would be exempt from CEQA if the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency determines that the project will help address subsidence, which is the sinking or settling of land. This exemption is being introduced in the context of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, a separate law aimed at managing groundwater basins sustainably. The bill also notes that because local agencies will need to determine if a project qualifies for this exemption, it could be considered a state-mandated local program, but it clarifies that no state reimbursement is required for local agencies or school districts for costs associated with this bill.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2132