Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Gsa Legislation Ab568 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislative subcommittee briefs commission on bill watchlist and AB568 plan to form Tule East GSA
Summary
A staff member from the legislative subcommittee told the Tulare County Water Commission the subcommittee is monitoring multiple bills and described AB568 as the legislative vehicle proposed to form a new Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) that would include Hope and Ducor water districts.
A staff member from the legislative subcommittee updated the Tulare County Water Commission on the subcommittee’s recent work and a list of bills the subcommittee is watching.
The staff member said the subcommittee “is now in the final push for bills” and listed multiple items they were monitoring. Items explicitly described as “watch” status in the meeting transcript included AB293 and AB362. The presenter said AB1044 did not make it out of the Assembly but staff secured language through an amendment to AB568 in the Senate; AB1413 and AB1466 were also noted as watches. On the Senate side, SB72, SB244 and SB554 were listed as watches; the presenter added that SB454’s legislative committee changed its position to a watch rather than opposed, and SB599 was also on the watchlist.
The subcommittee staff described a separate, related SGMA item: an updated map for the Tule subbasin showing a proposed new boundary for a legislatively formed Tule East GSA under AB568. The presenter described the new boundary (lighter green on the slide) plus the addition of Hope Water District (blue) and Ducor Water District (dark green), and said Hope Water District has an annexation in process. The staff member said all of that area would be part of the proposed Tule East GSA under AB568.
Commissioners asked for clarification about “islands” and “donut holes” in the proposed boundary (for example within Terra Bella and around Porterville). Staff said these are present on the map and that multiple datasets (management zones, irrigated‑lands boundaries) would be required to assemble a comprehensive overlay.
Commissioners discussed SGMA implementation and recent state‑level reviews. One commissioner said some GSAs have updated materials to address identified deficiencies but expressed skepticism that changes would be sufficient to meet state expectations. The staff member noted ongoing contact with state staff and that the legislative “gut‑and‑amend” process remains active; no formal commission position on any bill was taken at the meeting.
No formal votes or motions were recorded. Staff said they will continue monitoring the listed bills and the AB568 effort to form the Tule East GSA and will provide maps and updates to the commission as available.
