California Assembly Bill 2218
Session 20252026
Water policy: California Native American tribes.
Active
Vetoed by Governor on Sep 30, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
2218
State
California
Session
20252026
Motion Text
AB 2218 Kalra Concurrence in Senate Amendments
Assembly Roll Call Votes
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Ávila Farías
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Summary
Existing law establishes the sovereignty of the state.
This bill would require the state government to support California Native Americans to maintain cultural and linguistic traditions, practice ecosystem stewardship, and engage in good faith government-to-government consultations with all California Native American tribes regarding policies that may affect tribal communities.
Existing law establishes various state water policies, including the policy that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest use of water and the human right to water. Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to act upon all applications for a permit to appropriate water.
This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state to recognize and address the inequities, as described, inflicted upon all California Native American tribes through financial assistance, protection of tribal beneficial uses, consultation on water projects, plans, and policies, and incorporation of indigenous knowledge to restore and protect ecosystems. The bill would require specified state agencies, including the State Water Resources Control Board, regional water quality control boards, and the Natural Resources Agency, to incorporate this policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, permits, or grant criteria to address identified inequities. The bill would require those state entities to identify and offer financial assistance to the tribes consistent with existing legal and policy requirements for financial assistance programs. If there is a dispute between a California Native American tribe and one of those state agencies over the implementation of that policy, the bill would require that matter to be brought before the Governor's Office of Tribal Affairs for mediation before the state agency action is challenged in court and would specify procedures and timelines for mediation, as provided.
Existing law authorizes the board to conduct investigations and to issue information orders in administering water rights, as provided.
The bill would require the state board, in furtherance of an investigation and upon request, to consult with a tribe whose ancestral territory includes the water body or water bodies at issue for the claimed riparian or appropriative right.
02/19/26 - Introduced
February 19, 2026
04/16/26 - Amended Assembly
April 16, 2026
07/02/26 - Amended Senate
July 2, 2026
08/30/26 - Enrolled
August 30, 2026
04/11/26- Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
April 11, 2026
04/13/26- Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife
April 13, 2026
05/05/26- Assembly Appropriations
May 5, 2026
05/20/26- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS
May 20, 2026
06/19/26- Senate Natural Resources and Water
June 19, 2026
06/29/26- Senate Environmental Quality
June 29, 2026
07/31/26- Senate Appropriations
July 31, 2026
08/14/26- Sen. Floor Analyses
August 14, 2026
08/26/26- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS
August 26, 2026
Sort by most recent
09/30/2026
Assembly
Vetoed by Governor.
09/03/2026
California State Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
08/26/2026
Assembly
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 56. Noes 0. Page 6600.).
08/26/2026
Assembly
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
08/25/2026
Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 28. Noes 0.).
08/13/2026
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/13/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (August 13).
08/03/2026
Senate
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
07/02/2026
Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
07/02/2026
Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 1).
06/24/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
06/10/2026
Senate
Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.Q.
05/28/2026
Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
05/27/2026
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 0.)
05/18/2026
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
05/14/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).
05/06/2026
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
04/20/2026
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/16/2026
Assembly
Read second time and amended.
04/15/2026
Assembly
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 14).
04/14/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.
03/26/2026
Assembly
(Pending re-refer to Com. on E.S. & T.M.)
03/26/2026
Assembly
Assembly Rule 56 suspended.
03/24/2026
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
03/09/2026
Assembly
Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and E.S & T.M.
02/20/2026
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
02/19/2026
Assembly
Read first time. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 20, 2026 8:55:14 AM
Record Updated
Oct 1, 2026 9:18:05 AM