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Committee advances bill to create state framework for drinking water rate assistance
Summary
The committee advanced SB 1125 to establish a state-administered drinking water rate assistance program to help low-income Californians pay water bills; sponsors said the program is contingent on funding and is intended to work with companion funding legislation.
Sen. Menjivar said SB 1125 is designed to establish a statewide, state-funded drinking water rate assistance program to address rising water costs and household water debt. "If you didn't know, 1 in 8 Californians are dealing with household water debt," Menjivar told the committee, arguing there is no statewide assistance comparable to energy-sector programs.
Danielle Coates, director of government and public affairs for Rancho California Water District, told the committee the district serves about 150,000 customers and supports a state program administered by the State Water Resources Control Board as a way to make participation legally sound and operationally feasible for water providers. Coates said a companion funding bill, SB 2739, is intended to supply resources to stand up the program.
Representatives from numerous water districts, conservation groups and environmental-justice organizations registered support, including the Municipal Water District of Orange County, East Bay MUD, the Association of California Water Agencies and the California Environmental Justice Network. Witnesses said Proposition 218 constrains some public water systems from funding rate assistance directly and that a state program would provide a workable legal framework.
No witnesses testified in opposition on the record. Committee members thanked the author and sponsors, discussed technical and funding issues, and the chair recommended an "I" vote with the roll call to occur once a quorum was confirmed. The committee later moved SB 1125 to the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee with the roll call left open for absent members.
