Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Groundwater Transparency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill requiring groundwater agencies to publish board membership and links to financial disclosures
Summary
AB 293 would require groundwater sustainability agencies to publish board membership and links to Form 700 economic interest statements; the Assembly committee voted to move the bill out for further consideration after proponents said the change would improve transparency for the public and small farmers.
Assemblymember Bennett introduced AB 293, which would require California’s groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) to publish their board membership on agency websites and to provide a link to the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) where board members’ Form 700 economic interest statements can be viewed.
Bennett said his staff found it difficult to identify who serves on GSAs and that the public faces similar or greater difficulty; many GSAs already disclose board membership but the bill would make that a statewide requirement. Catherine Van Dyke of Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAF) testified in support, saying standardized disclosure would help underrepresented small and mid‑sized family farmers understand who is making decisions that affect groundwater and ensure local control does not mask undisclosed conflicts of interest.
During committee discussion, Assemblymember Musada (speaker identified in transcript as raising concerns) said she feared added disclosure might deter people from serving on GSA boards and expressed concern about potential chilling effects on participation. The author responded that transparency is important and that prospective board members unwilling to disclose board membership should prompt efforts to recruit other volunteers who will comply with disclosure expectations.
After debate and a recorded roll call, the committee voted to pass AB 293. The author said he would continue outreach and framing to address concerns about recruitment and burdens on small GSAs.
Supporters cited SB 1156 (from the prior year) as background requiring GSA board members to file Form 700 statements; AB 293 is framed as a companion transparency measure to make the filings and membership easier for the public to locate.
