AB 794: California Safe Drinking Water Act: emergency regulations.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act (state act), requires the State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health. The state board’s duties include, but are not limited to, enforcing the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (federal act) and adopting and enforcing regulations. Existing law authorizes the state board to adopt as an emergency regulation, a regulation that is not more stringent than, and is not materially different in substance and effect than, the requirements of a regulation promulgated under the federal act, with a specified exception.

This bill would provide that the authority of the state board to adopt an emergency regulation pursuant to these provisions includes the authority to adopt requirements of a specified federal regulation that was in effect on January 19, 2025, regardless of whether the requirements were repealed or amended to be less stringent. The bill would prohibit an emergency regulation adopted pursuant to these provisions from implementing less stringent drinking water standards, as provided, and would authorize the regulation to include monitoring requirements that are more stringent than the requirements of the federal regulation. The bill would prohibit maximum contaminant levels and compliance dates for maximum contaminant levels adopted as part of an emergency regulation from being more stringent than the maximum contaminant levels and compliance dates of a regulation promulgated pursuant to the federal act. The bill would require, on or before December 31, 2026, the state board to adopt an emergency regulation and to initiate a primary drinking water standard for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, as provided. The bill would make other changes to proceedings initiated upon the adoption of an emergency regulation to establish a public health goal and primary drinking water standards, as specified.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 2, 2026Died on inactive file.
2. June 12, 2025Ordered to inactive file at the request of Assembly Member Gabriel.
3. May 27, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
4. May 23, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 23).
5. April 23, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
6. April 21, 2025Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7. April 10, 2025Read second time and amended.
8. April 9, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (April 8).
9. March 3, 2025Referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.
10. February 19, 2025From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
11. February 18, 2025Read first time. To print.