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Sweetwater Authority backs PFAS mitigation, EV exemption and Brown Act remote participation bills and reports Sacramento advocacy trip
Summary
The Sweetwater Authority board voted March 12 to support three state bills the authority said would help with PFAS mitigation, emergency vehicle exemptions for electric-vehicle mandates and continued remote participation under the Brown Act.
The Sweetwater Authority board voted unanimously on March 12 to take a support position on three bills the authority described as relevant to local water operations, PFAS mitigation and governance.
Staff identified the three measures as Senate Bill 454 (described in materials as a proposal to create a PFAS mitigation fund, by Senate author Jerry McNerney), Senate Bill 496 (related to electric vehicle mandates and allowing exemptions for emergency vehicles and special districts) and Assembly Bill 259 (removing the sunset for a Brown Act remote participation provision that otherwise would end in 2025). The authority said a support position would allow staff to send letters to the authors and policymakers backing the measures.
General Manager Carlos Quintero and Director Castaneda described recent meetings in Sacramento to advocate for PFAS mitigation funding and other priorities. Board members said they met with multiple legislative offices, made public comment to an Assembly committee, and urged that Proposition 4 (the November 2024 climate resilience bond) be considered as one potential funding source for a PFAS mitigation fund. Director Castaneda and others reported meeting with legislators and staff who were receptive to the authority’s story and needs.
Directors discussed additional pending legislation related to PFAS, including an Assembly bill (referred to in the meeting as AB 794) that board members said they would review through a legislative affairs committee. Board members emphasized affordability and the authority’s existing low-income rate assistance program as persuasive elements of their advocacy.
The board approved the support positions by roll call vote; Director Martinez Perez was present for the vote on the three bills and the motion passed unanimously. The authority said it will follow up with letters to bill authors and continue work through its legislative affairs and communications committee.
Board members also recounted the Sacramento trip as a series of outreach meetings with state legislators, ACWA and other coalition partners to press for PFAS mitigation funding, to discuss dam safety and to enlist co-sponsors for legislation that would benefit the authority. The board said the meetings included presentations about the authority’s PFAS investigations, disadvantaged-community status and low-income assistance work.
No public comments were received on the item during the meeting.
