California SB 599: Life insurance: retained-asset account.

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 Bill Text - SB-599 Atmospheric rivers: research: forecasting methods: experimental tools.

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 |Add To My Favorites |Track Bill | Version: 04/24/25 - Amended Senate
 03/24/25 - Amended Senate
 02/20/25 - Introduced

 SB-599 Atmospheric rivers: research: forecasting methods: experimental tools.(2025-2026)

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 Date Published: 04/24/2025 09:00 PM

SB599:v97#DOCUMENTBill Start

 Amended
 IN 
 Senate
 April 24, 2025

 Amended
 IN 
 Senate
 March 24, 2025

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

 Senate Bill

No. 599

Introduced by Senator Caballero

February 20, 2025

 An act to amend Section 347 of the Water Code, relating to atmospheric rivers.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 599, as amended, Caballero.
 Atmospheric rivers: research: forecasting methods: experimental tools.

Existing law establishes the Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program in the Department of Water Resources. Existing law requires the department to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection, and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers. Existing law requires the department to research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions.

This bill would, for novel forecasting methods researched, developed, and
 implemented by the department, require the department to include the use of experimental tools that produce seasonal and subseasonal atmospheric river forecasts, as defined.

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.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Atmospheric rivers are long narrow bands of concentrated moisture that form over the Pacific Ocean. in the atmosphere that often originate over tropical oceans and bring sustained, heavy precipitation, especially to the west coast of North America.

(b) Atmospheric rivers have been identified as major drivers of floods and precipitation, responsible for up to one-half of
 the annual precipitation in California and 94 percent of all flood damages, totaling around $620 million annually.

(c) Climate change is resulting in more intense and more frequent atmospheric rivers.

(d) In southern California, around Prado Dam, atmospheric rivers have caused the 10 largest events on record. Additionally, precipitation in the Yuba-Feather watershed is strongly tied to atmospheric river activity.

(e) Winter storms from late-December 2022 to mid-January 2023 caused massive flood damage in 40 of California’s 58 counties, resulting in 20 deaths and significant devastation to homes, roads, infrastructure, agriculture, businesses,
 and the economy, and economy. AccuWeather estimates that the storms have likely caused over $30 billion in damages. damages and economic losses, including job and wage losses, crop losses, evacuation costs, airline delays, lost business, and supply chain interruptions.

(f) One in five Californians live in flood-prone areas, and all 58 counties have a history of severe flood damage. Homes and buildings worth approximately $900 billion are at risk of flooding.

(g) Flooding is the most widespread natural hazard in California, and is more pervasive than wildfires or earthquakes.

(h) Low-income communities of color are disproportionately at risk due to limited financial capacity for flood control upgrades and recovery.

(i) Over 250 aging dams and outdated flood infrastructure increase the likelihood of catastrophic flooding.

(j) California spends $1.8 billion annually on flood control operations and maintenance, and $1 billion annually on new investments, but investment needs range from $2 to $4.5 billion, inclusive, annually for the next 25 years.
 investments.

(k) Since 2006, only more than $4.5 billion in state funding has been allocated to become available for new flood infrastructure. infrastructure from bonds and recent budget surpluses. However, investment needs cost estimates
 range from