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AB 1203

Water conservation: water wise designation.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Ahrens

Establishes a statewide "water wise" designation for CII businesses meeting set water-use BMPs to publicly recognize and incentivize efficiency.

Referred to Com. on W. P., & W.
#waterconservation #waterwisedesignation
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Bill Summary · AB 1203

AB 1203 — California Water Wise Designation Act (Summary)

Overview

AB 1203 seeks to create a formal recognition program within California’s Save Our Water Campaign. The bill would establish a statewide “water wise” designation for businesses in the commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) sector that meet or exceed the recommended CII water use best management practices (BMPs) as identified by performance measures developed under prior water efficiency statutes.

  • Bill number: AB 1203
  • Title: Water conservation: water wise designation
  • Introduced: February 21, 2025
  • Current status: Referred to Committee on Water, Parks, & Wildlife (W. P., & W.)
  • Legislative actions: Read first time (Feb 24, 2025); From printer (Feb 22, 2025); To Print (Feb 22, 2025); Referred to committee (Mar 10, 2025); May be heard March 24 (per initial timeline)
  • Fiscal impact: No appropriation requested; fiscal committee required
  • Key objective: Recognize CII sector businesses that implement recommended water efficiency practices

Purpose and Intent

The bill builds on California’s long-term water efficiency framework by adding a recognition mechanism. It ties public acknowledgment to compliance with established CII water use BMPs and performance measures. The goal is to incentivize broader adoption of efficient water practices in the CII sector and to reinforce the state’s drought resilience and water conservation objectives.

Key Provisions

  • Establishment of the “water wise” designation within the Save Our Water Campaign.
  • Eligibility: Businesses in the CII sector that meet or exceed the recommendations for CII water use BMPs as outlined in existing statutory performance measures (Section 10609.10).
  • Administration: The Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications are required to implement and administer the designation.
  • Scope alignment: The designation leverages the ongoing framework for CII water use efficiency standards and performance measures originally developed under SB 606 and AB 1668.
  • Relationship to existing law: Builds on prior mandates for long-term standards and performance measures for CII water use, integrating recognition rather than creating new standards.

Affected Parties

  • State agencies: Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications; potentially in coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board.
  • Private sector: Commercial, industrial, and institutional businesses in California seeking public recognition for water efficiency.
  • Public: Beneficiaries of enhanced water conservation messaging and transparency.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative status: Referred to the Committee on Water, Parks, & Wildlife; expected committee hearings per standard process.
  • No funds authorization: No appropriation identified in the bill text.
  • Implementation timeline: contingent on passage and adoption of performance measures already referenced (10609.10) and coordination with the Save Our Water Campaign.

Potential Impacts

  • Positive: Encourages adoption of BMPs, strengthens public awareness of water efficiency in business operations, aligns with drought preparedness and long-term water supply strategies.
  • Considerations: Requires clear criteria for designation, verification processes, renewal/recertification, and credible branding to ensure consistent, non-misleading use of the designation.

This summary reflects the bill’s core aim to publicly recognize water-efficient behavior in California’s CII sector while aligning with existing conservation standards.

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

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