Bill Commons

CA AB 532

in committee

Water rate assistance program.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did CA AB 532 pass?

Not yet. CA AB 532 is in committee and has not come to a final vote. Latest recorded action (2025-08-29): In committee: Held under submission.

What is CA AB 532 about?

(1) Existing federal law, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, among other things, requires the federal Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a Low-Income Household Drinking Water and Wastewater Emergency Assistance Program, which is also known as the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, for making grants to states and Indian tribes to assist low-income households that pay a high proportion of household income for drinking water and wastewater services, as provided. Existing law requires the Department of Community Services and Development to administer the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program in this state, and to receive and expend moneys appropriated and allocated to the state for purposes of that program, pursuant to the above-described federal law. The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program was only operative until March 31, 2024. This bill would repeal the above-described requirements related to the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. (2) Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health. Existing law declares it to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes. Existing law requires the state board, by January 1, 2018, to develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program, as prescribed. Existing law requires the state board, by February 1, 2018, to report to the Legislature on its findings regarding the feasibility, financial stability, and desired structure of the program, including any recommendations for legislative action that may need to be taken. Existing law requires a public water system to submit a technical report to the state board as part of the permit application or when otherwise required by the state board. This bill would authorize a public urban retail water supplier to provide water rate assistance to its ratepayers, as specified, and would define the term "water rate assistance" to mean any offset of the cost of drinking water service provided through a low-income water rate assistance program, including, but not limited to, a reduction in a water bill, a percentage reduction of a water utility bill, a water account credit, or crisis assistance used to reduce or eliminate a water bill arrearage or potential arrearage. The bill would authorize the water rate assistance to be provided to specified eligible ratepayers, including, among others, residential ratepayers with an annual household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline level. The bill would authorize a public urban retail water supplier to use any funding it has available to provide water rate assistance to its ratepayers, as specified, including voluntary contributions sought from other ratepayers. The bill would require an urban retail water supplier to, beginning January 1, 2028, include in the technical report to the state board specified information regarding its water rate assistance program. The bill would require the state board to conduct a voluntary survey of urban retail water suppliers, as provided, by July 1, 2026.

Who sponsors CA AB 532?

Ransom is the primary sponsor of CA AB 532, joined by 1 cosponsor.

Description

(1) Existing federal law, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, among other things, requires the federal Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a Low-Income Household Drinking Water and Wastewater Emergency Assistance Program, which is also known as the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, for making grants to states and Indian tribes to assist low-income households that pay a high proportion of household income for drinking water and wastewater services, as provided. Existing law requires the Department of Community Services and Development to administer the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program in this state, and to receive and expend moneys appropriated and allocated to the state for purposes of that program, pursuant to the above-described federal law. The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program was only operative until March 31, 2024. This bill would repeal the above-described requirements related to the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. (2) Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health. Existing law declares it to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes. Existing law requires the state board, by January 1, 2018, to develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program, as prescribed. Existing law requires the state board, by February 1, 2018, to report to the Legislature on its findings regarding the feasibility, financial stability, and desired structure of the program, including any recommendations for legislative action that may need to be taken. Existing law requires a public water system to submit a technical report to the state board as part of the permit application or when otherwise required by the state board. This bill would authorize a public urban retail water supplier to provide water rate assistance to its ratepayers, as specified, and would define the term "water rate assistance" to mean any offset of the cost of drinking water service provided through a low-income water rate assistance program, including, but not limited to, a reduction in a water bill, a percentage reduction of a water utility bill, a water account credit, or crisis assistance used to reduce or eliminate a water bill arrearage or potential arrearage. The bill would authorize the water rate assistance to be provided to specified eligible ratepayers, including, among others, residential ratepayers with an annual household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline level. The bill would authorize a public urban retail water supplier to use any funding it has available to provide water rate assistance to its ratepayers, as specified, including voluntary contributions sought from other ratepayers. The bill would require an urban retail water supplier to, beginning January 1, 2028, include in the technical report to the state board specified information regarding its water rate assistance program. The bill would require the state board to conduct a voluntary survey of urban retail water suppliers, as provided, by July 1, 2026.

Introduced
2025-04-01
Latest action
2025-08-29 — In committee: Held under submission.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Ransomauthor
  • Rogerscoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2025-08-29

    In committee: Held under submission.

  2. 2025-08-18

    In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    referral-committee

  3. 2025-07-17

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  4. 2025-07-16

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 16).

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee

  5. 2025-07-02

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  6. 2025-06-19

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  7. 2025-06-18

    Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and L. GOV.

    referral-committee

  8. 2025-06-04

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    reading-1,referral-committee

  9. 2025-06-03

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2009.)

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  10. 2025-05-27

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  11. 2025-05-23

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  12. 2025-05-23

    Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)

  13. 2025-05-23

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage

  14. 2025-05-14

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

    referral-committee

  15. 2025-05-06

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    referral-committee

  16. 2025-05-05

    Read second time and amended.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  17. 2025-05-01

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 30).

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee

  18. 2025-04-30

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  19. 2025-04-24

    (Pending re-refer to Com. on U. & E.)

    referral-committee

  20. 2025-04-24

    Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 1265.)

  21. 2025-04-23

    Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

    referral-committee

  22. 2025-04-22

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  23. 2025-04-02

    Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

    referral-committee

  24. 2025-04-01

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  25. 2025-03-03

    Referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

    referral-committee

  26. 2025-02-12

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

  27. 2025-02-11

    Read first time. To print.

    reading-1

Versions

  • 02/11/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-11Compare
  • 04/01/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-04-01Compare
  • 04/22/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-04-22Compare
  • 05/05/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-05-05Compare
  • 05/23/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-05-23Compare
  • 06/19/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-06-19Compare
  • 07/17/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-07-17Compare
  • AB532Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Utilities and Energy]

    2025-04-29 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Ellis: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes

  • Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-04-30 · pass · 18-0

    Member-level votes (18)
    • Patterson: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Mark González: yes

  • Do pass as amended.

    2025-05-23 · pass · 11-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Calderon: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Ta: other
    • Sanchez: other
    • Dixon: other
    • Tangipa: other

  • AB 532 Ransom Assembly Third Reading

    2025-06-03 · pass · 78-0

    Member-level votes (79)
    • Sanchez: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Soria: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Ellis: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Addis: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Macedo: other

  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-07-02 · pass · 8-0

    Member-level votes (8)
    • Hurtado: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Menjivar: yes

  • Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-07-16 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Wiener: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Choi: yes

  • Placed on suspense file

    2025-08-18 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Richardson: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Grayson: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB532

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z

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