California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California SB 697
Determination of water rights: stream system.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Laird (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
(1) Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to hold proceedings to determine all rights to water of a stream system whether based upon appropriation, riparian right, or other basis of right. Existing law provides various requirements for the board when determining adjudication of water rights, including, among other things, performing a detailed field investigation of a stream system, as defined, issuing an order of determination, providing notice and a hearing process, and filing a final order.
This bill would revise the above-described provisions regarding the board's statutory adjudication of water rights during an investigation of a stream system to, among other things, require representatives of the board to investigate in detail the use of water with the authority, but no requirement, to conduct a field investigation, authorize the board, if the board determines that the information provided by the person, as specified, is inadequate, to issue information orders that require claimants to submit reports of water use from the stream system through a form provided by the board, and require claimants to respond to that order within 75 days of the date of issuance by the board.
(2) Existing law establishes procedures for reconsideration and amendment of specified decisions and orders of the board. Existing law authorizes any party aggrieved by a specified decision or order of the board to file, not later than 30 days from the date of final board action, a petition for writ of mandate for judicial review of the decision or order.
This bill would apply the procedures for reconsideration, amendment, and judicial review to decisions and orders of the board issued pursuant to the provisions described above.
Text versions
- 10/06/25 - Chaptered· Oct 6, 2025
- 09/04/25 - Enrolled· Sep 4, 2025
- 07/03/25 - Amended Assembly· Jul 3, 2025
- 05/01/25 - Amended Senate· May 1, 2025
- 02/21/25 - Introduced· Feb 21, 2025
- SB697
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 12:24 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2025 Senate | Unfinished Business SB697 Laird Concurrence | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 29, 2025 House | SB 697 Laird Senate Third Reading By Papan | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 20, 2025 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 8, 2025 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 1, 2025 House | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 28, 2025 Senate | 3rd Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 22, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Mar 25, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Oct 6, 2025 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 422, Statutes of 2025. - Oct 6, 2025 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 9, 2025 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. - Sep 2, 2025 · Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 2410.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. - Aug 29, 2025 · Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. - Aug 29, 2025 · House
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 66. Noes 0. Page 2793.) Ordered to the Senate. - Aug 21, 2025 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 20, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (August 20). - Jul 9, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jul 3, 2025 · House
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD. - Jul 2, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 1). - Jun 5, 2025 · House
Referred to Coms. on W. P., & W. and JUD. - May 28, 2025 · House
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. - May 28, 2025 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 1. Page 1272.) Ordered to the Assembly. - May 13, 2025 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 12, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8. - May 2, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing May 12. - May 1, 2025 · Senate
May 5 hearing postponed by committee. - May 1, 2025 · Senate
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 25, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing May 5. - Apr 23, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 837.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 3, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 22. - Mar 25, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 532.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. - Mar 12, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing March 25. - Mar 5, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and JUD. - Feb 24, 2025 · Senate
Read first time. - Feb 24, 2025 · Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24. - Feb 21, 2025 · Senate
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.