Council-Sponsored Water Innovation Bill Clears First Committee Hurdle

A bill co-sponsored by the Bay Area Council and the California Municipal Utilities Association to advance technological innovation in the water sector passed its first key committee vote on Tuesday. Senate Bill 1197 (Caballero) would establish the Initiative to Advance Water Innovation and Drought Resiliency within the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The initiative would establish an interagency team to work with regional water agencies, scientists and academics, and entrepreneurs to develop policy recommendations to facilitate investments in innovative water technology. The bill would also establish a Water Innovation Fund to help local and regional water agencies scale innovative technologies to conserve water supplies. The bill now heads to Senate Appropriations. To engage with the Council’s Committee on Water & Climate Resilience, please contact Senior Vice President, Public Policy Adrian Covert.