AB 1573 — Water conservation: landscape design: model ordinance.

Summary

The Water Conservation in Landscaping Act provides for a Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance that is adopted and updated at least every 3 years by the Department of Water Resources, unless the department makes a specified finding. Existing law requires a local agency to adopt the model ordinance or to adopt a water efficient landscape ordinance that is at least as effective in conserving water as the updated model ordinance, except as specified. Existing law specifies the provisions of the updated model ordinance, as provided. Existing law includes a related statement of legislative findings and declarations. This bill would require the updated model ordinance to include provisions that require that plants included in a landscape design plan be selected based on their adaptability to climatic, geological, and topographical conditions of the project site, as specified. The bill would also exempt landscaping that is part of a culturally specific project, as defined, ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system, mined-land reclamation projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system, and existing plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public, from the model ordinance. The bill would require the updated model ordinance to include provisions that, among other changes, prohibit the use of traditional overhead sprinklers on all new and rehabilitated landscapes and require that new and rehabilitated landscapes use only water efficient irrigation devices. The bill would also require the model ordinance, at the next update initiated after January 1, 2029, to require that all new or renovated nonresidential areas install in the project footprint not less than 10% California native plants, as provided, and to prohibit the inclusion of nonfunctional turf in nonresidential landscape projects. The bill would make other clarifying changes to the updated model ordinance. The bill would also revise the legislative findings and declarations to state, among other things, that the model ordinance furthers the state's goal to conserve biodiversity and provide for climate resilience consistent with state drought efforts to eliminate the use of irrigation of nonfunctional turf. Because the bill would revise requirements imposed on certain local agencies in connection with water efficient landscape ordinances, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Text

• Amended 09/01/23 - Amended Senate Current pdf September 01, 2023
• Amended 08/16/23 - Amended Senate pdf August 16, 2023
• Amended 07/10/23 - Amended Senate pdf July 10, 2023
• Amended 06/19/23 - Amended Senate pdf June 19, 2023
• Amended 05/18/23 - Amended Assembly pdf May 18, 2023
• Amended 03/23/23 - Amended Assembly pdf March 23, 2023
• Introduced 02/17/23 - Introduced pdf February 17, 2023
• AB1573 View text html

Action History

1. September 07, 2023

   Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Stern.

2. September 05, 2023

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

3. September 01, 2023

   Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

4. September 01, 2023

   From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (September 1).

5. August 28, 2023

   In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.

6. August 17, 2023

   In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

7. August 16, 2023

   From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.

8. July 10, 2023

   Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

9. July 06, 2023

   From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (July 3).

10. June 21, 2023

    In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

11. June 19, 2023

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

12. June 14, 2023

    Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

13. June 01, 2023

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

14. May 31, 2023

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 56. Noes 18. Page 2016.)

15. May 22, 2023

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

16. May 18, 2023

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

17. May 18, 2023

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 18).

18. May 03, 2023

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

19. April 19, 2023

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 4.) (April 18). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

20. March 27, 2023

    Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.

21. March 23, 2023

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended.

22. March 09, 2023

    Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.

23. February 18, 2023

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.

24. February 17, 2023

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Friedman · Primary
• Henry I. Stern · Cosponsor

Votes

Subjects