State Water Resources Control Board: PFAS Mitigation Program.

The document format changed from a formal enrolled bill (with page headers, Secretary/Chief Clerk signature lines, and Governor approval block) to a web-based presentation that includes site navigation, bill status timeline, and metadata fields such as vote type, appropriation status, fiscal committee review, and local program designation.

The bill no longer makes an appropriation. The act description changed from 'relating to water, and making an appropriation therefor' to simply 'relating to water,' and the fiscal note changed from 'Appropriation: yes' to 'Appropriation: no.' The chapter remains contingent on a future legislative appropriation.

Section 116774.22(b) now limits the nonstate, federal, and private funds the state board may deposit into the PFAS Mitigation Fund to those 'designated for PFAS remediation and treatment,' rather than any nonstate, federal, or private funds.

Stormwater was added as a covered category in three provisions: eligible purposes for fund expenditures (disposal of PFAS after treating stormwater; removal of PFAS from stormwater), and the eligibility requirement that applicants describe how funds will benefit their community related to safe drinking water, recycled water, stormwater, or treated wastewater.

The deadline for the state board to adopt implementation guidelines was removed. The previous version required adoption 'on or before July 1, 2027'; the new version simply requires the state board to adopt guidelines without specifying a date.

Replaced 'wastewater operator' with 'sewer system provider' throughout the bill. The old definition required a person or entity to possess a valid, unexpired operator certificate; the new term uses the broader Water Code Section 13288 definition of sewer service provider, expanding who can receive funding.

Expanded wastewater treatment funding from only covering costs to meet 'applicable waste discharge requirements' to two separate purposes: (A) treating wastewater or recycled water to reduce or remove PFAS regardless of whether standards exist yet, and (B) meeting applicable state or federal standards once they are established. Also added recycled water as a covered medium.

Changed the state board's obligation to adopt implementation guidelines from optional ('may') to mandatory ('shall') with a firm deadline of July 1, 2027. The old version had awkward grammar suggesting it was permissive; the new version clearly requires action.

Gave the state board authority to establish multiple accounts within the PFAS Mitigation Fund, rather than requiring all nonstate, federal, and private funds to go into a single PFAS Reduction Account. This provides more flexibility in managing different funding streams.

Changed the fund's location from 'General Fund State Treasury' to simply 'State Treasury,' clarifying that the fund is not part of the General Fund but exists as a separate entity within the State Treasury.

Removed the specific definition of 'wastewater operator' (which required a valid, unexpired operator certificate) and replaced it with reliance on the existing Water Code definition of 'sewer service provider.'

Recycled water is added as a covered water type throughout the bill. Funding can now be used for treating drinking water including recycled water, treating wastewater or recycled water to reduce or remove PFAS, and disposal costs related to recycled water.

The legislative findings are expanded to include a new finding about ongoing industrial use of PFAS in products, and existing findings are updated to reference recycled water and 'passive receivers' in environmental justice language.

The term 'wastewater operator' is replaced with 'sewer system provider' (defined by reference to Water Code Section 13288), broadening which entities can receive funds. A new definition for 'recycled water' is added referencing Water Code Section 13050.

The PFAS Mitigation Fund is now created in the State Treasury (within the General Fund) rather than simply in the General Fund, with moneys available upon appropriation by the Legislature.

The state board may expend no more than 5 percent of total moneys available in the fund for administering the fund.

A new subsection lists eligible expenditures: construction or upgrade of treatment facilities addressing PFAS, infrastructure for monitoring or pilot testing of PFAS treatment alternatives, and costs for planning, design, and infrastructure for eligible projects.

The state board must adopt guidelines on or before July 1, 2027 (previously it simply 'may adopt guidelines' with no deadline). Guidelines must include specific funding criteria from each source, minimum and maximum grant amounts based on percentage of total annual moneys, and public comment opportunities including website notification and two public workshops.

Treatment of drinking water now covers meeting both 'applicable state advisory levels' and 'applicable state and federal maximum PFAS contaminant levels,' adding the lower advisory level threshold as a funding trigger.

A new Article 4 (Section 116774.29) adds a contingent operation provision: the entire chapter becomes operative only upon an appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes. This means none of the fund's authorities, eligibility rules, or guidelines requirements take effect until the Legislature appropriates money.

The separate PFAS Reduction Account within the PFAS Mitigation Fund was eliminated. Nonstate, federal, and private funds are now deposited directly into the PFAS Mitigation Fund rather than into a sub-account. The state board retains authority to establish accounts within the fund.

The legislative counsel digest appropriation line was changed from 'Appropriation: yes' to 'Appropriation: no,' consistent with the new contingent operation structure. The bill no longer makes an immediate appropriation.

Eligible expenditures were narrowed: 'Infrastructure related to monitoring or pilot testing for PFAS treatment alternatives' was changed to 'Infrastructure related to monitoring PFAS,' removing pilot testing of treatment alternatives as a fundable activity.

Senators Arreguin and Limon were added as coauthors of the bill.