Committee advances bill to preserve 'water supply assessment' planning step for large projects

Senator D'ARAZO presented SB 1085 to maintain the statutory water supply assessment (WSA) process so local land‑use decisions continue to consider long‑term water availability for large developments even when CEQA exemptions apply.

Debbie Michael of East Bay Municipal Utility District, a sponsor, told the committee the WSA process creates early coordination between developers, water suppliers and local governments on infrastructure and costs and helps avoid "paper water" scenarios. "SB 10 85 allows this process to continue even if the large scale development isn't subject to CEQA," she said.

Support came from a broad coalition of water districts, environmental groups and municipal associations, with witnesses stressing climate variability and declining snowpack as reasons to keep water planning linked to land use. "Early coordination ensures the water supplier can discuss infrastructure improvements and related costs," an East Bay MUD representative said.

The California Building Industry Association, represented by Ben Turner, opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it could slow streamlined housing and create litigation risk by pulling the WSA out of the CEQA process. "This bill, as drafted, creates unintended consequences that could slow down the very housing projects the legislature has worked hard to streamline," Turner said.

Committee members debated where WSAs add value and where they duplicate existing legal safeguards (urban water management plans, subdivision map act water supply verifications). The author and sponsors said the bill aims to preserve the planning role of WSAs while minimizing duplicative work for jurisdictions that already have water planning in place.

The committee moved SB 1085 to Local Government with a recorded vote.