Bill
AB 1466
AB 1466 creates a streamlined judicial process for California to adjudicate groundwater rights, resolving competing claims and establishing sustainable extraction limits for aquifer basins.
AB 1466 establishes a streamlined process for adjudicating groundwater rights in California, creating a legal mechanism to resolve disputes over groundwater use and establish sustainable management baselines. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart, was signed into law in October 2025 after passing both chambers with overwhelming support.
California's groundwater has been over-extracted for decades, with competing claims from agricultural, municipal, and environmental users creating legal uncertainty and conflicts. This bill provides courts and water agencies a clearer framework for determining who has rights to groundwater and in what quantities, which is essential for implementing California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and protecting long-term water security.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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