California SB1253: Salinas Reservoir: recreational use.

What the bill says

An act to add and repeal Section 115843.7 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to reservoirs. reservoirs Salinas Reservoir: recreational use. Existing law, with certain exceptions, prohibits recreational use in which there is bodily contact with water in a reservoir in which water is stored for domestic use, and establishes water standards for those exempted reservoirs…

From the chaptered text, August 31, 2026:

An act to add and repeal Section 115843.7 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to reservoirs. reservoirs Salinas Reservoir: recreational use. Existing law, with certain exceptions, prohibits recreational use in which there is bodily contact with water in a reservoir in which water is stored for domestic use, and establishes water standards for those exempted reservoirs. This bill would create an exception from the above-described prohibition for recreation in which there is bodily contact with water by a participant in the Salinas Reservoir if the water subsequently receives complete water treatment in compliance with all applicable regulations of the State Water Resources Control Board before being used for domestic purposes, the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District conducts a prescribed monitoring program, and the reservoir is operated in compliance with regulations of the board. The bill would require, years after approval of the changed use of the reservoir to a body contact reservoir by the board’s Division of Drinking Water, and biennially thereafter, the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to file with the Legislature and the board a report on the recreational uses at the Salinas Reservoir and the water treatment program for that reservoir, as specified. By imposing a new requirement on the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• John Laird (D, SD17) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. August 31, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 177, Statutes of 2026.
2. August 31, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. August 21, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 17, 2026: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5488.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 17, 2026: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
6. August 17, 2026: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
7. August 13, 2026: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6158.) Ordered to the Senate.
8. August 13, 2026: In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
9. August 13, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
10. August 6, 2026: Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

Votes

• Unfinished Business SB1253 Laird Concurrence (August 17, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
• SB 1253 Laird Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session (August 13, 2026): 72 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (August 5, 2026): 15 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar (June 30, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Water, Parks, and Wildlife] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar (June 16, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Consent Calendar 2nd SB1253 Laird (May 14, 2026): 35 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB1253?

SB1253 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Salinas Reservoir: recreational use.

What does SB1253 do?

In its own words: An act to add and repeal Section 115843.7 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to reservoirs. reservoirs Salinas Reservoir: recreational use. Existing law, with certain exceptions, prohibits recreational use in which there is bodily contact with water in a reservoir in which water is stored for domestic use, and establishes water standards for those exempted reservoirs…

What is the status of SB1253?

Chaptered as of August 31, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 177, Statutes of 2026. (August 31, 2026).

Who sponsored SB1253?

John Laird (D, SD17).

Where is the official record for SB1253?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1253