The California Human Right to Water Bill Package seeks to establish the basic right of every human being to have access to clean water for basic human needs as a state policy. Around 8 million Californians rely on water supplies that fail to meet drinking water standards each year. The Central Valley and Central Coast regions are particularly vulnerable because communities rely heavily on groundwater. However, opponents of some bills in the package assert the legislation is duplicative and imposes unnecessary burdens on water agencies. Governor Jerry Brown has signed AB 938, AB 983, AB 1221, and SB 244 into law. SB 685 is being held on the suspense file by the Senate Appropriations Commitee, while AB 1187 failed to pass out of Assembly Appropriations.

Sponsored by the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice.