CaliforniaState agencies would address tribes’ unequal access to water
The vetoed bill would require covered state agencies to address tribes’ unequal access to water and offer financial help under existing program rules.
What it does
Covered agencies would address tribes’ unequal access to and control over water when setting relevant rules and decisions. They would also offer financial help under existing program rules.
Tribes and covered agencies would have to try mediation before a court challenge over the water policy. Disputed agency actions would pause, with an additional 60-day pause if talks fail.
During investigations of claimed water rights, the State Water Resources Control Board would have to consult upon request with tribes whose ancestral territory includes the waters involved.
State government would support California Native Americans in keeping their cultures and languages and caring for natural areas. It would also consult with tribes about policies that may affect them.
Argument forUsing tribal knowledge and consulting tribes during water investigations could help agencies make decisions that better protect tribal water uses.
Argument againstPausing disputed agency actions during mediation and afterward could delay water decisions for tribes and other people who depend on them.
More detail
Covered state agencies would apply a policy addressing tribes’ unequal access to and control over water. This covers all California Native American tribes. Agencies include state and regional water boards, the Natural Resources Agency and its related bodies, the Delta Stewardship Council, and the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Agencies would apply the policy when changing or creating policies, rules, permits, or grant criteria to address identified inequalities. The policy includes protecting tribal water uses, consulting tribes, and using Indigenous knowledge to restore and protect ecosystems. Agencies would identify and offer financial help under existing assistance program rules.
The Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs would mediate disputes over how covered agencies carry out the tribal water policy. This applies to disputes between a California Native American tribe and an agency covered by the tribal water policy. The disputed agency action would pause during mediation. A tribe could leave mediation if it believes the agency is not negotiating in good faith. If no agreement is reached within the resolution period, the action would remain paused for another 60 days. Without agreement then, the office would issue a letter confirming completion of the required agency process. The office would convene a meeting within 30 days of referral, gather information for no more than 60 days from the initial meeting, and have no more than 30 days after gathering information ends to reach agreement.
The State Water Resources Control Board would have to consult with a covered tribe upon request during a water-rights investigation. This covers California Native American tribes whose ancestral territory includes water bodies involved in a claimed right to take or use water. Consultation would require a request.
State government would support California Native Americans in keeping their traditions and languages and caring for ecosystems. Support would cover California Native Americans, and consultation would cover all California Native American tribes. State and tribal governments would consult in good faith about policies that may affect tribal communities.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.Latest
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 56. Noes 0. Page 6600.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2218 Kalra Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 26In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 28. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2218 Kalra et al. By McGuire. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 2From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 1).Major
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Quality]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.Q.Minor
- May 28In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 27Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 0. Page 5454.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2218 Kalra Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 20Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 16Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 15From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 14).Major
- Apr 14From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26(Pending re-refer to Com. on E.S. & T.M.)Minor
- Mar 26Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 4433.)
- Mar 24In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Mar 9Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and E.S & T.M.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
- Feb 19Read first time. To print.Introduced
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