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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 31

Water quality: recycled water.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (7)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

(1) The Water Recycling Law generally provides for the use of recycled water. Existing law requires any person who, without regard to intent or negligence, causes or permits an unauthorized discharge of 50,000 gallons or more of recycled water in or on any waters of the state to immediately notify the appropriate regional water board. This bill would, for the purposes of the above provision, redefine "recycled water" and provide that water discharged from a decorative body of water during storm events is not to be considered an unauthorized discharge if recycled water was used to restore levels due to evaporation. (2) Existing law regulating the use of recycled water prohibits the use of prescribed potable water by state and local agencies for any nonpotable uses, including cemeteries, golf courses, parks, and highway landscaped areas if prescribed recycled water is available, and deems use of the recycled water in lieu of the potable water to constitute a reasonable beneficial use of that water. The bill would provide that incidental amounts of spray, mist, or runoff are to be permitted to enter outdoor eating areas of parks and open spaces when irrigated with disinfected tertiary treated recycled water that complies with a specified regulation regarding irrigation. (3) Existing law authorizes any public agency, including a state agency, city, county, city and county, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, to require the use of recycled water for irrigation of residential landscaping, as specified. The bill would provide that outdoor landscape irrigation of common areas that does not enter the boundaries of a residence is not to be considered a part of the same premises as an individual residence and is not to be considered a dual-plumbed system. The bill would require recycled water used for this purpose to comply with specified water quality and cost conditions. (4) Existing law authorizes any public agency, including a state agency, city, county, city and county, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, to require the use of recycled water for toilet and urinal flushing in structures, as specified. Existing law defines "structures" for the purposes of these provisions. This bill would include food handling and processing facilities as part of the definition of "structures." The bill would authorize the use of recycled water for toilet or urinal flushing or outdoor irrigation in and around food handling or processing facilities, commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings, and cafeterias, provided the recycled water does not enter the room where food handling or processing occurs, as specified.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Sep 4, 2025
Senate		Unfinished Business SB31 McNerney et al. ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Sep 3, 2025
House		SB 31 McNerney Senate Third Reading By AlvarezpassSet your home in California to see
Aug 29, 2025
House		Do pass.passSet your home in California to see
Jul 1, 2025
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent CalendarpassSet your home in California to see
Jun 17, 2025
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials]passSet your home in California to see
May 29, 2025
Senate		Special Consent SB31 McNerney et al.passSet your home in California to see
May 23, 2025
Senate		Do passpassSet your home in California to see
May 23, 2025
Senate		[05-23-2025] set for [First] hearing: Reconsideration of favorable vote grantedpassSet your home in California to see
May 23, 2025
Senate		Do passpassSet your home in California to see
May 12, 2025
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 30, 2025
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Mar 25, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Environmental Quality]passSet your home in California to see

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