Committee advances bill requiring groundwater sustainability agencies to post board membership and FPPC links

Assemblymember Bennett presented AB 293, which would require each groundwater sustainability agency (GSA) to publish board membership on its website and provide a link to the Fair Political Practices Commission site where officials’ statements of economic interest (Form 700) are filed.

Catherine Van Dyke of the Community Alliance with Family Farmers testified in support, saying the requirement helps small and midsize farmers who struggle to identify decision makers and potential conflicts of interest at the local level. Supporters argued the change builds public trust and follows last year’s SB 1156, which standardized filing of Form 700 for GSA board members.

Opponents, including Bob Reeb on behalf of the Valley Ag Water Coalition and Soren Nelson of the Association of California Water Agencies, said GSAs already operate under extensive oversight, including Department of Water Resources review and State Water Board oversight, and questioned why GSAs should be singled out for this posting requirement. Reeb said there is no compelling reason presented this session to single out one local agency type for this mandate.

Action: The committee recorded a motion to ‘‘do pass’’ AB 293; the motion carried in committee and the bill was placed on call and later reported out to the next committee. Notes: supporters urged uniform public access to Form 700 filings and board rosters; opponents asked for parity with other local agencies.

Background: GSAs were established under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and are subject to state review; the bill seeks to standardize online disclosure of board membership and Form 700 links to improve transparency.

Next steps: AB 293 advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee (reported out of the Natural Resources and Water Committee).