CaliforniaCalifornia law eases permit rules for water agencies fighting golden mussels and speeds state response
California Chapter 817, an urgency law in effect immediately, exempts water agencies with a control plan from some permit rules for invasive mussels and requires state guidance, updated infestation maps, and faster agency coordination.
What it does
Water supply agencies with a submitted control plan would not need invasive mussel permits for maintenance and research work in their systems, or for dead mussels used for research and education.
By April 1, 2027, the state must issue mostly voluntary guidance on control plans and publish guidance on mussel research and handling.
The state must update its website maps of mussel-infested waters at least quarterly and show reported versus confirmed detections.
State agencies and water boards must work with local agencies, identify response tools, and find faster approval processes when invasive species such as golden mussels threaten.
The law took effect immediately as an urgency statute because of the golden mussel threat to water systems.
Argument forExempting agencies with a control plan from permits could let them remove mussels from pipes and screens faster, which may help keep water supplies running.
Argument againstHandling live mussels without separate permits could raise the risk of spreading them if plans or handling are weak, since the control plan guidance is mostly voluntary.
More detail
A public or private agency that operates a water supply system and has submitted a control plan to the department is exempt from permit requirements for invasive mussels for maintenance, operational, and research work in its system, such as removing mussels from pipes, screens, and filters. The agency is also exempt for dead invasive mussels used for research, outreach, education, species verification, training, or other purposes the department finds in the state's best interest. The exemption lasts for that agency until the department decides the control plan does not meet the legal requirements, or approves the plan.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife's Invasive Species Program must develop guidance for water agencies on writing effective control plans, and publish guidance on scientific research and mussel handling. The control plan guidance includes protocols, example standards, and the legal requirements of a plan. The research guidance covers research done outside an infested system, with standards for handling, moving, and disposing of mussels. Except for the legal requirements of a control plan, the control plan guidance is voluntary. Both pieces of guidance are due by April 1, 2027.
The department must update its maps of mussel-infested water bodies on its website at least every quarter, based on monitoring and reported detections. The maps must show the difference between reported and confirmed detections and include the date of the latest update. Updates are required at least quarterly.
In response to an invasive species threat, including golden mussels, the department and the State and regional water boards must work with state and local agencies to respond quickly and efficiently. The agencies must identify tools, including pest management strategies or registered pesticides, that can help local agencies respond. They must also help identify existing processes that allow faster use of those tools. The State Water Board must help coordinate the regional boards if necessary.
The act takes effect immediately as an urgency statute. The Legislature says golden mussels are an emerging crisis that threatens water infrastructure, water systems, water bodies, and ecosystem health. The act took effect when approved on September 29, 2026.
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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 29Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 817, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 29Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 10Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 31
- Vote recorded AB 2032 Ransom Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 30Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6935.).Major
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2032 Ransom By Ashby Urgency Clause. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 30In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 30Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Aug 30Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. 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] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 11From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Major
- Jun 3Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.Q.Minor
- May 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2032 Ransom Third Reading Urgency. Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 5371.).Passed Assembly
- May 19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 18Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- May 14From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)
- May 13In 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 7. Noes 0.) (April 14).Major
- Apr 14From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. (Ayes 13. 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 23Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.Minor
- Mar 19From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 19Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and E.S & T.M.Minor
- Feb 18From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
- Feb 17Read first time. To print.Introduced
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