California 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB59 Latest Draft

Bill / Amended Version Filed 03/27/2025

                            Amended IN  Assembly  March 27, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 59Introduced by Assembly Member Aguiar-CurryDecember 02, 2024An act to amend and repeal Section 50906 of the Water Code, relating to reclamation districts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 59, as amended, Aguiar-Curry. Reclamation District No. 108: hydroelectric power.Existing law authorizes the formation of reclamation districts by owners of swamp and overflowed lands, salt-marsh, or tidelands, or other lands subject to flood or overflow, and by owners of land already reclaimed, or in progress of reclamation, and not included in a reclamation district. Existing law authorizes Reclamation District No. 1004, in conjunction with the County of Colusa, to construct, maintain, and operate a plant, transmission lines, and other necessary or appropriate facilities for the generation of hydroelectric power, as prescribed. Existing law requires proceeds from the sale of electricity to be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed. Existing law authorizes Reclamation District No. 108 to exercise this hydroelectric power authority until January 1, 2026.This bill would authorize Reclamation District No. 108 to continue to exercise the above-described hydroelectric power authority after January 1, 2026. The bill would require Reclamation District No. 108 to submit a report to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, containing certain information, including, among other things, whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: NO  Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 50906 of the Water Code, as amended by Section 30 of Chapter 371 of the Statutes of 2020, is amended to read:50906. (a) A reclamation district specified in subdivision (d) may construct, maintain, and operate a plant for the generation of hydroelectric power, together with transmission lines for the conveyance thereof and with other facilities that may be necessary or appropriate for the construction, maintenance, and operation of that plant. Construction of the plant and transmission lines may be financed by the issuance of time warrants pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53040) of Chapter 1 of Part 9 to pay the cost of construction of the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities, except that the board may, by resolution, provide for the payment of those time warrants solely from the proceeds derived from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant, in lieu of the assessment described in Section 53040, and may, in that event, pledge the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities and the revenues from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant as the sole security for the payment of the time warrants.(b) The hydroelectric powerplant, transmission lines, and related facilities constructed pursuant to this section may be leased for operation to, or the power generated may be sold to, a public utility or public agency engaged in the distribution, use, or sale of electricity, but shall not be offered for sale directly by the district to customers other than a public utility or public agency.(c) Proceeds from the sale of electricity shall be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed.(d) This section applies only to the following reclamation districts:(1) Reclamation District No. 1004 acting in conjunction with the County of Colusa.(2) Reclamation District No. 108.(e) Reclamation District No. 108 shall submit to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government, between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, a report containing the following information:(1) Whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.(2) Whether the district is using its hydroelectric authority or has plans to use its hydroelectric authority. If the district is using its hydroelectric power or has plans to use its hydroelectric power, the report shall include the following information: (A) The status of the project.(B) Financial statements related to the selling of hydroelectric power.SEC. 2. Section 50906 of the Water Code, as amended by Section 31 of Chapter 371 of the Statutes of 2020, is repealed.

 Amended IN  Assembly  March 27, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 59Introduced by Assembly Member Aguiar-CurryDecember 02, 2024An act to amend and repeal Section 50906 of the Water Code, relating to reclamation districts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 59, as amended, Aguiar-Curry. Reclamation District No. 108: hydroelectric power.Existing law authorizes the formation of reclamation districts by owners of swamp and overflowed lands, salt-marsh, or tidelands, or other lands subject to flood or overflow, and by owners of land already reclaimed, or in progress of reclamation, and not included in a reclamation district. Existing law authorizes Reclamation District No. 1004, in conjunction with the County of Colusa, to construct, maintain, and operate a plant, transmission lines, and other necessary or appropriate facilities for the generation of hydroelectric power, as prescribed. Existing law requires proceeds from the sale of electricity to be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed. Existing law authorizes Reclamation District No. 108 to exercise this hydroelectric power authority until January 1, 2026.This bill would authorize Reclamation District No. 108 to continue to exercise the above-described hydroelectric power authority after January 1, 2026. The bill would require Reclamation District No. 108 to submit a report to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, containing certain information, including, among other things, whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: NO  Local Program: NO 

 Amended IN  Assembly  March 27, 2025

Amended IN  Assembly  March 27, 2025

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION

 Assembly Bill 

No. 59

Introduced by Assembly Member Aguiar-CurryDecember 02, 2024

Introduced by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry
December 02, 2024

An act to amend and repeal Section 50906 of the Water Code, relating to reclamation districts. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 59, as amended, Aguiar-Curry. Reclamation District No. 108: hydroelectric power.

Existing law authorizes the formation of reclamation districts by owners of swamp and overflowed lands, salt-marsh, or tidelands, or other lands subject to flood or overflow, and by owners of land already reclaimed, or in progress of reclamation, and not included in a reclamation district. Existing law authorizes Reclamation District No. 1004, in conjunction with the County of Colusa, to construct, maintain, and operate a plant, transmission lines, and other necessary or appropriate facilities for the generation of hydroelectric power, as prescribed. Existing law requires proceeds from the sale of electricity to be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed. Existing law authorizes Reclamation District No. 108 to exercise this hydroelectric power authority until January 1, 2026.This bill would authorize Reclamation District No. 108 to continue to exercise the above-described hydroelectric power authority after January 1, 2026. The bill would require Reclamation District No. 108 to submit a report to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, containing certain information, including, among other things, whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.

Existing law authorizes the formation of reclamation districts by owners of swamp and overflowed lands, salt-marsh, or tidelands, or other lands subject to flood or overflow, and by owners of land already reclaimed, or in progress of reclamation, and not included in a reclamation district. Existing law authorizes Reclamation District No. 1004, in conjunction with the County of Colusa, to construct, maintain, and operate a plant, transmission lines, and other necessary or appropriate facilities for the generation of hydroelectric power, as prescribed. Existing law requires proceeds from the sale of electricity to be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed. Existing law authorizes Reclamation District No. 108 to exercise this hydroelectric power authority until January 1, 2026.

This bill would authorize Reclamation District No. 108 to continue to exercise the above-described hydroelectric power authority after January 1, 2026. The bill would require Reclamation District No. 108 to submit a report to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, containing certain information, including, among other things, whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.

## Digest Key

## Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 50906 of the Water Code, as amended by Section 30 of Chapter 371 of the Statutes of 2020, is amended to read:50906. (a) A reclamation district specified in subdivision (d) may construct, maintain, and operate a plant for the generation of hydroelectric power, together with transmission lines for the conveyance thereof and with other facilities that may be necessary or appropriate for the construction, maintenance, and operation of that plant. Construction of the plant and transmission lines may be financed by the issuance of time warrants pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53040) of Chapter 1 of Part 9 to pay the cost of construction of the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities, except that the board may, by resolution, provide for the payment of those time warrants solely from the proceeds derived from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant, in lieu of the assessment described in Section 53040, and may, in that event, pledge the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities and the revenues from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant as the sole security for the payment of the time warrants.(b) The hydroelectric powerplant, transmission lines, and related facilities constructed pursuant to this section may be leased for operation to, or the power generated may be sold to, a public utility or public agency engaged in the distribution, use, or sale of electricity, but shall not be offered for sale directly by the district to customers other than a public utility or public agency.(c) Proceeds from the sale of electricity shall be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed.(d) This section applies only to the following reclamation districts:(1) Reclamation District No. 1004 acting in conjunction with the County of Colusa.(2) Reclamation District No. 108.(e) Reclamation District No. 108 shall submit to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government, between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, a report containing the following information:(1) Whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.(2) Whether the district is using its hydroelectric authority or has plans to use its hydroelectric authority. If the district is using its hydroelectric power or has plans to use its hydroelectric power, the report shall include the following information: (A) The status of the project.(B) Financial statements related to the selling of hydroelectric power.SEC. 2. Section 50906 of the Water Code, as amended by Section 31 of Chapter 371 of the Statutes of 2020, is repealed.

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

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

SECTION 1. Section 50906 of the Water Code, as amended by Section 30 of Chapter 371 of the Statutes of 2020, is amended to read:50906. (a) A reclamation district specified in subdivision (d) may construct, maintain, and operate a plant for the generation of hydroelectric power, together with transmission lines for the conveyance thereof and with other facilities that may be necessary or appropriate for the construction, maintenance, and operation of that plant. Construction of the plant and transmission lines may be financed by the issuance of time warrants pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53040) of Chapter 1 of Part 9 to pay the cost of construction of the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities, except that the board may, by resolution, provide for the payment of those time warrants solely from the proceeds derived from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant, in lieu of the assessment described in Section 53040, and may, in that event, pledge the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities and the revenues from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant as the sole security for the payment of the time warrants.(b) The hydroelectric powerplant, transmission lines, and related facilities constructed pursuant to this section may be leased for operation to, or the power generated may be sold to, a public utility or public agency engaged in the distribution, use, or sale of electricity, but shall not be offered for sale directly by the district to customers other than a public utility or public agency.(c) Proceeds from the sale of electricity shall be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed.(d) This section applies only to the following reclamation districts:(1) Reclamation District No. 1004 acting in conjunction with the County of Colusa.(2) Reclamation District No. 108.(e) Reclamation District No. 108 shall submit to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government, between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, a report containing the following information:(1) Whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.(2) Whether the district is using its hydroelectric authority or has plans to use its hydroelectric authority. If the district is using its hydroelectric power or has plans to use its hydroelectric power, the report shall include the following information: (A) The status of the project.(B) Financial statements related to the selling of hydroelectric power.

SECTION 1. Section 50906 of the Water Code, as amended by Section 30 of Chapter 371 of the Statutes of 2020, is amended to read:

### SECTION 1.

50906. (a) A reclamation district specified in subdivision (d) may construct, maintain, and operate a plant for the generation of hydroelectric power, together with transmission lines for the conveyance thereof and with other facilities that may be necessary or appropriate for the construction, maintenance, and operation of that plant. Construction of the plant and transmission lines may be financed by the issuance of time warrants pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53040) of Chapter 1 of Part 9 to pay the cost of construction of the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities, except that the board may, by resolution, provide for the payment of those time warrants solely from the proceeds derived from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant, in lieu of the assessment described in Section 53040, and may, in that event, pledge the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities and the revenues from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant as the sole security for the payment of the time warrants.(b) The hydroelectric powerplant, transmission lines, and related facilities constructed pursuant to this section may be leased for operation to, or the power generated may be sold to, a public utility or public agency engaged in the distribution, use, or sale of electricity, but shall not be offered for sale directly by the district to customers other than a public utility or public agency.(c) Proceeds from the sale of electricity shall be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed.(d) This section applies only to the following reclamation districts:(1) Reclamation District No. 1004 acting in conjunction with the County of Colusa.(2) Reclamation District No. 108.(e) Reclamation District No. 108 shall submit to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government, between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, a report containing the following information:(1) Whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.(2) Whether the district is using its hydroelectric authority or has plans to use its hydroelectric authority. If the district is using its hydroelectric power or has plans to use its hydroelectric power, the report shall include the following information: (A) The status of the project.(B) Financial statements related to the selling of hydroelectric power.

50906. (a) A reclamation district specified in subdivision (d) may construct, maintain, and operate a plant for the generation of hydroelectric power, together with transmission lines for the conveyance thereof and with other facilities that may be necessary or appropriate for the construction, maintenance, and operation of that plant. Construction of the plant and transmission lines may be financed by the issuance of time warrants pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53040) of Chapter 1 of Part 9 to pay the cost of construction of the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities, except that the board may, by resolution, provide for the payment of those time warrants solely from the proceeds derived from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant, in lieu of the assessment described in Section 53040, and may, in that event, pledge the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities and the revenues from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant as the sole security for the payment of the time warrants.(b) The hydroelectric powerplant, transmission lines, and related facilities constructed pursuant to this section may be leased for operation to, or the power generated may be sold to, a public utility or public agency engaged in the distribution, use, or sale of electricity, but shall not be offered for sale directly by the district to customers other than a public utility or public agency.(c) Proceeds from the sale of electricity shall be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed.(d) This section applies only to the following reclamation districts:(1) Reclamation District No. 1004 acting in conjunction with the County of Colusa.(2) Reclamation District No. 108.(e) Reclamation District No. 108 shall submit to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government, between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, a report containing the following information:(1) Whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.(2) Whether the district is using its hydroelectric authority or has plans to use its hydroelectric authority. If the district is using its hydroelectric power or has plans to use its hydroelectric power, the report shall include the following information: (A) The status of the project.(B) Financial statements related to the selling of hydroelectric power.

50906. (a) A reclamation district specified in subdivision (d) may construct, maintain, and operate a plant for the generation of hydroelectric power, together with transmission lines for the conveyance thereof and with other facilities that may be necessary or appropriate for the construction, maintenance, and operation of that plant. Construction of the plant and transmission lines may be financed by the issuance of time warrants pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53040) of Chapter 1 of Part 9 to pay the cost of construction of the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities, except that the board may, by resolution, provide for the payment of those time warrants solely from the proceeds derived from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant, in lieu of the assessment described in Section 53040, and may, in that event, pledge the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities and the revenues from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant as the sole security for the payment of the time warrants.(b) The hydroelectric powerplant, transmission lines, and related facilities constructed pursuant to this section may be leased for operation to, or the power generated may be sold to, a public utility or public agency engaged in the distribution, use, or sale of electricity, but shall not be offered for sale directly by the district to customers other than a public utility or public agency.(c) Proceeds from the sale of electricity shall be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed.(d) This section applies only to the following reclamation districts:(1) Reclamation District No. 1004 acting in conjunction with the County of Colusa.(2) Reclamation District No. 108.(e) Reclamation District No. 108 shall submit to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government, between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, a report containing the following information:(1) Whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.(2) Whether the district is using its hydroelectric authority or has plans to use its hydroelectric authority. If the district is using its hydroelectric power or has plans to use its hydroelectric power, the report shall include the following information: (A) The status of the project.(B) Financial statements related to the selling of hydroelectric power.



50906. (a) A reclamation district specified in subdivision (d) may construct, maintain, and operate a plant for the generation of hydroelectric power, together with transmission lines for the conveyance thereof and with other facilities that may be necessary or appropriate for the construction, maintenance, and operation of that plant. Construction of the plant and transmission lines may be financed by the issuance of time warrants pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53040) of Chapter 1 of Part 9 to pay the cost of construction of the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities, except that the board may, by resolution, provide for the payment of those time warrants solely from the proceeds derived from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant, in lieu of the assessment described in Section 53040, and may, in that event, pledge the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities and the revenues from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant as the sole security for the payment of the time warrants.

(b) The hydroelectric powerplant, transmission lines, and related facilities constructed pursuant to this section may be leased for operation to, or the power generated may be sold to, a public utility or public agency engaged in the distribution, use, or sale of electricity, but shall not be offered for sale directly by the district to customers other than a public utility or public agency.

(c) Proceeds from the sale of electricity shall be utilized used to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed.

(d) This section applies only to the following reclamation districts:

(1) Reclamation District No. 1004 acting in conjunction with the County of Colusa.

(2) Reclamation District No. 108.

(e) Reclamation District No. 108 shall submit to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government, between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2036, a report containing the following information:

(1) Whether the district has obtained permission from the Colusa Local Agency Formation Commission to enact its hydroelectric authority.

(2) Whether the district is using its hydroelectric authority or has plans to use its hydroelectric authority. If the district is using its hydroelectric power or has plans to use its hydroelectric power, the report shall include the following information: 

(A) The status of the project.

(B) Financial statements related to the selling of hydroelectric power.

SEC. 2. Section 50906 of the Water Code, as amended by Section 31 of Chapter 371 of the Statutes of 2020, is repealed.

SEC. 2. Section 50906 of the Water Code, as amended by Section 31 of Chapter 371 of the Statutes of 2020, is repealed.

### SEC. 2.