CaliforniaWater quality: state certification.
What it does
Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. Under federal law, any applicant seeking a federal license or permit for an activity that may result in any discharge into the navigable waters of the United States is required to first seek a state water quality certification, as specified. The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act authorizes the state board to certify or provide a statement to a federal agency, as required pursuant to federal law, that there is reasonable assurance that an activity of any person subject to the jurisdiction of the state board will not reduce water quality below applicable standards.
More detail
The federal act provides that if a state fails or refuses to act on a request for this certification within a reasonable period of time, which shall not exceed one year after receipt of the request, then the state certification requirements are waived with respect to the federal application.
This bill would require the state board, if requested by the applicant within 14 days of an initial draft certification being issued, to hold a public hearing at least 21 days before taking action on an application for certification for a license to operate a hydroelectric facility, as provided. The bill would, if a public hearing is requested on the draft certification, prohibit the authority to issue a certification for a license to operate a hydroelectric facility from being delegated. The bill would authorize the state board to include in its fee schedule for hydroelectric facility applicants an amount up to the reasonable costs incurred by the state board in implementing these provisions.
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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
- Jan 22Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.Latest
- 2025
- Oct 11Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
- Oct 11Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.Major
- Sep 24Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 13
- Vote recorded AB 1373 Soria Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 12Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 3421.).Major
- Sep 12In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Sep 11Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2931.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Special Consent AB1373 Soria By Caballero. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 9Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Sep 2Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 29Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 29From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).Major
- Aug 18In committee: Referred to suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 16From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 18Referred to Com. on E.Q.Minor
- Jun 4In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1373 Soria Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 3Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2017.)Passed Assembly
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- May 23From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).Major
- May 23Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
- May 14In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 30From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 29
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.Minor
- Apr 8From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 25Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.Minor
- Mar 24From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 24Referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.Minor
- Feb 24Read first time.Minor
- Feb 22From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
- Feb 21Introduced. To print.Introduced