California legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB2218: Water policy: California Native American tribes.
Status: Vetoed, September 30, 2026
What the bill says
An act to add Section 187 to the Government Code, and to amend Section 1051 of, and to add Section 106.2 to, the Water Code, relating to water. water Water policy: California Native American tribes. Existing law establishes the sovereignty of the state. This bill would require the state government to support California Native Americans to maintain cultural and linguistic traditions, practice ecosystem stewardship, and engage in good faith government-to-government consultations with all California Native American tribes regarding policies that may affect tribal communities…
From the enrolled text, August 30, 2026:
An act to add Section 187 to the Government Code, and to amend Section 1051 of, and to add Section 106.2 to, the Water Code, relating to water. water Water policy: California Native American tribes. Existing law establishes the sovereignty of the state. This bill would require the state government to support California Native Americans to maintain cultural and linguistic traditions, practice ecosystem stewardship, and engage in good faith government-to-government consultations with all California Native American tribes regarding policies that may affect tribal communities. Existing law establishes various state water policies, including the policy that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest use of water and the human right to water. Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to act upon all applications for a permit to appropriate water. This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state to recognize and address the inequities, as described, inflicted upon all California Native American tribes through financial assistance, protection of tribal beneficial uses, consultation on water projects, plans, and policies, and incorporation of indigenous knowledge to restore and protect ecosystems. The bill would require specified state agencies, including the State Water Resources Control Board, regional water quality control boards, and the Natural Resources Agency, to incorporate this policy when revising, adopting, or establishing …