Senate Local Government committee adopts rules, advances four bills including measures on water theft and short-term rentals

The Senate Committee on Local Government voted to adopt its committee rules and moved four bills to policy committees after an informational hearing.

Adoption of committee rules The committee unanimously adopted its rules by voice vote after a motion to adopt was made and no objections were raised. The chair announced the motion carried.

Bills advanced SB 394 (Allen) ' Water theft from fire hydrants Sen. Josh Allen's SB 394 would give local water agencies stronger deterrents and civil remedies to address unauthorized hydrant connections. Sponsors and witnesses from water districts testified that commercial theft of hydrant water has caused system damage, reduced pressure and public-health risk from potential contamination. Dave Peterson, general manager of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, estimated annual losses in his system on the order of tens of millions of gallons and roughly $150,000'$300,000 in direct water value.

The bill, cosponsored by the Association of California Water Agencies, would raise local penalty ceilings (for example, allowing higher fines for repeat violations), remove the current one-year automatic reset of…