SB 317: Wastewater surveillance.

Official summary

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

Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health to implement various programs throughout the state relating to public health. The department administers the California Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard that provides an overview ​of data from testing wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 virus in California. The data in the dashboard is generated by those participating in the department’s California Surveillance of Wastewaters (Cal-SuWers) network, including the Cal-SuWers program, WastewaterSCAN, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Wastewater Surveillance System, wastewater utilities, and academic, laboratory, and other state and federal partners.

This bill would require the department, in consultation with participating wastewater treatment facilities, local health departments, and other subject matter experts, to maintain the Cal-SuWers network to test, as appropriate for public health use, for pathogens, toxins, or other public health indicators in wastewater. The bill would require participation in the Cal-SuWers network from local health departments and wastewater treatment facilities to be voluntary. The bill would authorize the department to coordinate with health care providers, local health departments, and emergency response agencies to ensure wastewater surveillance data is used for early intervention, outbreak response, epidemiological investigations, and public health planning. The bill would authorize the department to communicate to the general public, through a publicly accessible internet website, as specified, to provide transparency and public awareness of wastewater-based disease monitoring. The bill would authorize the department to utilize external funding sources, in addition to the department’s existing, noncontinuously appropriated funding sources, to implement these provisions. The bill would make related findings and declarations.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

“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. March 2, 2026Veto sustained.
2. March 2, 2026Stricken from file.
3. October 6, 2025In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
4. October 6, 2025Vetoed by the Governor.
5. September 22, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
6. September 11, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2890.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
7. September 8, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
8. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3001.) Ordered to the Senate.
9. September 3, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. September 2, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
11. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).
12. August 20, 2025August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.