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AB 1413

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act: groundwater adjudication.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Bennett and 2 co-sponsors

AB 1413 modifies California's groundwater adjudication procedures to implement sustainable management requirements, affecting water rights allocation for agricultural and municipal users.

Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Wahab.
#sustainablegroundwatermanagementact #groundwateradjudication
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Bill Summary · AB 1413

Legislative bill overview

AB 1413 proposes changes to California's groundwater adjudication process under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The bill aims to streamline or modify how courts resolve disputes over groundwater rights and allocations in overdrafted basins. Specific amendments were approved by committee in late August 2025, though the bill was subsequently moved to the inactive file in September.

Why is this important

Groundwater adjudication directly affects water access for agriculture, municipalities, and businesses in California's drought-prone regions. The process determines legal water rights, which influences investment decisions, agricultural viability, and regional development. California's SGMA framework requires sustainable groundwater management by 2042, making adjudication procedures critical to implementation.

Potential points of contention

  • Agricultural vs. municipal water allocation – Farmers and urban water providers often compete for limited groundwater resources, with different priorities for adjudication outcomes
  • Cost and timeline concerns – Adjudication lawsuits are expensive and lengthy; proposed changes may either accelerate resolution (benefiting some parties) or extend timelines (disadvantaging others)
  • Existing water rights vs. sustainability goals – Balancing historical water use claims against mandated basin sustainability requirements under SGMA creates fundamental conflicts

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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