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 Bill Text - SB-697 Determination of water rights: stream system.

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 |Add To My Favorites |Track Bill | Version: 10/06/25 - Chaptered
 09/04/25 - Enrolled
 07/03/25 - Amended Assembly
 05/01/25 - Amended Senate
 02/21/25 - Introduced

 SB-697 Determination of water rights: stream system.(2025-2026)

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 Date Published: 10/07/2025 02:00 PM

SB697:v95#DOCUMENTBill Start

 Senate Bill

 No. 697

 CHAPTER 422

 An act to amend Sections 1120, 2551, 2552, 2553, 2554, 2555, and 2600 of, and to add Section 2556 to, the Water Code, relating to water.

 [
 Approved by

 Governor
 October 06, 2025.

 Filed with

 Secretary of State
 October 06, 2025.
 ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 697, Laird.
 Determination of water rights: stream system.

(1) Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to hold proceedings to determine all rights to water of a stream system whether based upon appropriation, riparian right, or other basis of right. Existing law provides various requirements for the board when determining adjudication of water rights, including, among other things, performing a detailed field investigation of a stream system, as defined, issuing an order of determination, providing notice and a hearing process, and filing a final order.

This bill would revise the above-described provisions regarding the board’s statutory adjudication of water rights during an investigation of a stream system to, among other things, require representatives of the board to investigate in detail the use of water with the authority, but no requirement, to
 conduct a field investigation, authorize the board, if the board determines that the information provided by the person, as specified, is inadequate, to issue information orders that require claimants to submit reports of water use from the stream system through a form provided by the board, and require claimants to respond to that order within 75 days of the date of issuance by the board.

(2) Existing law establishes procedures for reconsideration and amendment of specified decisions and orders of the board. Existing law authorizes any party aggrieved by a specified decision or order of the board to file, not later than 30 days from the date of final board action, a petition for writ of mandate for judicial review of the decision or order.

This bill would apply the procedures for reconsideration, amendment, and judicial review to decisions and orders of the board issued pursuant to the provisions
 described above.

Digest Key

 Vote:
 MAJORITY 
 Appropriation:
 NO 
 Fiscal Committee:
 YES 
 Local Program:
 NO 

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 1120 of the Water Code is amended to read:

1120.

 This chapter applies to any decision or order issued under this part or Section 275, Part 2 (commencing with Section 1200), Part 2 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 6, Part 2.55 (commencing with Section 10608) of Division 6, or Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 10735) of Part 2.74 of Division 6, Article 7 (commencing with Section 13550) of Chapter 7 of Division 7, or the public trust doctrine, and to any information order issued under Article 3 (commencing with Section 2550) of Chapter 3 of Part 3.

SEC. 2.

 Section 2551 of the Water Code is amended to read:

2551.

 (a) During the investigation of the stream system, the representatives of the board shall investigate in detail the use of water by each person who has given notice of intent to file a proof of claim, and shall determine the acreage under irrigation or otherwise define the place of use and purpose of use, determine the location and capacity of the person’s diversion works and conduits conveying water from the stream system, and the amount of water diverted and reasonably required to satisfy the uses being made.

(b) In conducting investigations under this article, the board shall consider all pertinent information, including, but not limited to, information provided under
 Sections 1840 and 1841.

(c) Representatives of the board may conduct a field investigation of a person’s water use after giving 30 days’ notice in writing to the person subject to the investigation, or at the request of that person as part of the investigation of the stream system. It shall be the duty of each claimant to be present at some time during the detailed field investigation either in per