Introduction:

CWC supports California state and federal legislation that plans, prepares, and protects water access for vulnerable communities. Alongside impacted communities, allies and decision makers in both state and federal spaces are working together to protect and advocate for safe and affordable drinking water for all. Click here to learn more on Legislative Policy Positions.

2026 California Legislative Priorities:

• SB 1125 (Menjivar) - Public water systems: drinking water needs assessment

  • Takes initial steps towards making water affordable for all Californians by incorporating information about water affordability into the existing Drinking Water Needs Assessment, published annually by the State Water Resources Control Board.

  • Resources:

    • Fact sheet

    • Coalition Support Letter

• SAFER - Secure the backfill language

  • During reauthorization, backfill language was removed, leaving SAFER funding amounts solely dependent on Cap & Invest auction revenue. Recent Cap & Invest auctions have underperformed, reducing this year’s SAFER funding to $92 million, a shortfall of $38 million. SAFER must receive its entire $130 million funding allocation, ensuring that drinking water needs across the state are met.

2026 Endorsed State Bills:

• AB 2739 (Soria) - Community Water Affordability Program

  • This bill would establish the Community Water Affordability Program to provide funding in the form of grants to local water suppliers for water system repairs, rehabilitation, and enhancements, water safety and quality, and other local water system infrastructure projects, for the purpose of reducing the amount of local ratepayer funding required for those projects. 

2025/26 Endorsed Federal Bills:

• H.R. 4733 - Low-Income Household Water Establishment Act (2025) by Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17)

  • Reauthorizes and codifies the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) by allocating $500 million annually for it to be housed at the Department of Health and Human Services.

• H.R. 4879 - Emergency Rural Water Response Act of 2025 (2025) by Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-21)

  • Expands the USDA Rural Development Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Program by increasing the population cap for eligibility from 10,000 to 35,000.

For more information, please contact:

Policy:

Kelsey Hinton, Policy Director

kelsey.hinton@communitywatercenter.org

Media:

Maraid Jimenez, Communications Manager

maraid.jimenez@communitywatercenter.org