San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary Water Quality Control Plan: update: substitute environmental document: exemption.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lori Wilson

AB 497 states the Legislature will consider future changes to the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, but does not enact policies or funding now.

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

#sanfranciscobay/sacramento-sanjoaquindeltaestuarywaterqualitycontrolplan #exemption #substituteenvironmentaldocument #update

Overview

AB 497 is a California Assembly bill introduced on February 10, 2025. It is an “intent” bill that states the Legislature’s plan to enact future legislation relating to the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary Water Quality Control Plan (Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan). The bill does not itself propose new policies or authorize funding.

Purpose and intent

The bill expresses the Legislature’s intent to pursue future legislation concerning the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, which governs water quality control measures and flow requirements to protect beneficial uses in the Bay-Delta watershed.

It references existing law that makes bond funds available to the Natural Resources Agency for implementing an updated Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan.

Key provisions

SECTION 1: Establishes only the intent to enact future legislation related to the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. No substantive policy changes or new regulatory requirements are contained in the current text.

Financial mechanics: The bill itself does not appropriate funds and is not tied to fiscal commitments. Existing law already provides bond funding to support implementing the Bay-Delta Plan via the Natural Resources Agency and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).

Who/what is affected

Primary agencies: Natural Resources Agency and the SWRCB, which administer the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan.

Stakeholders in the Delta watershed (cities, water suppliers, environmental groups, agricultural users) may be impacted by future legislation implementing changes to the Plan, but AB 497 does not change obligations or protections today.

Procedural/timeline aspects

Status: From printer; May be heard in committee on March 13 (as indicated in the bill’s status notes).

Introduction: February 10, 2025.

Legislative action notes: Read first time and to print on February 10; from printer on February 11.

Legislative nature: Majority-vote bill (no appropriation, no fiscal committee involvement, no local program).

Summary

AB 497 serves as a formal declaration of the Legislature’s intent to consider future legislation affecting the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. It does not enact changes, nor authorize new funding or specific policy revisions at this time. Any substantive updates to the Plan would come through subsequent bills with their own policy and fiscal provisions.

Bill