California 20252026 Regular Session Status: To Executive 2 D cosponsors

AB 2218 — Water policy: California Native American tribes.

Last action — Vetoed by Governor.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 19, 2026. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom (Democratic) on September 30, 2026.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 66% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 11 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill requires state support for California Native American tribes in water policy and cultural preservation.

This bill mandates that California state agencies consult and provide support to Native American tribes in matters of water policy. It aims to address inequities and incorporate indigenous knowledge into ecosystem management.

What this means for you
  • Families: This bill aims to support Native American families by preserving their cultural practices and ensuring their perspectives are included in water policy discussions.

Summary

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 policies, regulations, permits, or grant criteria to address identified inequities. The bill would require those state entities to identify and offer financial assistance to the tribes consistent with existing legal and policy requirements for financial assistance programs. If there is a dispute between a California Native American tribe and one of those state agencies over the implementation of that policy, the bill would require that matter to be brought before the Governor's Office of Tribal Affairs for mediation before the state agency action is challenged in court and would specify procedures and timelines for mediation, as provided. Existing law authorizes the board to conduct investigations and to issue information orders in administering water rights, as provided. The bill would require the state board, in furtherance of an investigation and upon request, to consult with a tribe whose ancestral territory includes the water body or water bodies at issue for the claimed riparian or appropriative right.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Vetoed by Governor.

  2. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

  3. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 56. Noes 0. Page 6600.).

  4. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  5. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 28. Noes 0.).

  6. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  7. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (August 13).

  8. In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

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

  10. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 1).

  11. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

  12. Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.Q.

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

  14. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 0.)

  15. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  16. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).

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

  18. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  19. Read second time and amended.

  20. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 14).

  21. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

  22. (Pending re-refer to Com. on E.S. & T.M.)

  23. Assembly Rule 56 suspended.

  24. In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  25. Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and E.S & T.M.

  26. From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  27. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 120 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (120)

120 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 120 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

AB 2218 Kalra Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Passed 56 Yea · 0 Nay · 23 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 00018
Democratic 50004
Unaffiliated 6001
Total 560023
% of votes cast 71%0%0%29%
How each member voted (79)
Member Party Vote
Patterson — Not Voting
Ávila Farías — Yea
Rivas — Yea
Carrillo — Yea
Fong — Yea
Garcia — Yea
Lowenthal — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Not Voting
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Not Voting
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Patel, Darshana R. Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Celeste Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Michelle Democratic Not Voting
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Not Voting
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Schultz, Nick Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Not Voting
Castillo, Leticia Republican Not Voting
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Davies, Laurie Republican Not Voting
DeMaio, Carl Republican Not Voting
Dixon, Diane Republican Not Voting
Ellis, Stan Republican Not Voting
Flora, Heath Republican Not Voting
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Not Voting
Hadwick, Heather Republican Not Voting
Hoover, Josh Republican Not Voting
Johnson, Natasha Republican Not Voting
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Not Voting
Sanchez, Kate Republican Not Voting
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting
Tangipa, David J. Republican Not Voting
Wallis, Greg Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

3rd Reading AB2218 Kalra et al. By McGuire

Passed 28 Yea · 0 Nay · 12 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 26004
Republican 2008
Total 280012
% of votes cast 70%0%0%30%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Not Voting
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Not Voting
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Not Voting
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Not Voting
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Pérez, Sasha Renée Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Yea
Choi, Steven S. Republican Not Voting
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Not Voting
Jones, Brian W. Republican Not Voting
Niello, Roger W. Republican Not Voting
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Not Voting
Strickland, Tony Republican Not Voting
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Assembly 3rd Reading AB2218 Kalra et al. By McGuire

Passed 28 Yea · 0 Nay · 12 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5001
Republican 2007
Democratic 21004
Total 280012
% of votes cast 70%0%0%30%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Ochoa Bogh — Not Voting
Pérez — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Weber Pierson — Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Not Voting
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Not Voting
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Not Voting
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Not Voting
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Yea
Choi, Steven S. Republican Not Voting
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Not Voting
Jones, Brian W. Republican Not Voting
Niello, Roger W. Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Not Voting
Strickland, Tony Republican Not Voting
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Committee vote — Committee CS64 — Committee vote

Passed 4 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 3001
Republican 0002
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 4003
% of votes cast 57%0%0%43%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Gonzalez — Yea
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Not Voting
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Quality]

Passed 5 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 5000
Republican 0002
Total 5002
% of votes cast 71%0%0%29%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

AB 2218 Kalra Assembly Third Reading

Passed 57 Yea · 0 Nay · 23 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 56003
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 00020
Total 570023
% of votes cast 71%0%0%29%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Ávila Farías — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Not Voting
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Garcia, Robert Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Patel, Darshana R. Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Celeste Democratic Not Voting
Rodriguez, Michelle Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Not Voting
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Schultz, Nick Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Not Voting
Castillo, Leticia Republican Not Voting
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Davies, Laurie Republican Not Voting
DeMaio, Carl Republican Not Voting
Dixon, Diane Republican Not Voting
Ellis, Stan Republican Not Voting
Flora, Heath Republican Not Voting
Gallagher, James Republican Not Voting
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Not Voting
Hadwick, Heather Republican Not Voting
Hoover, Josh Republican Not Voting
Johnson, Natasha Republican Not Voting
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Not Voting
Patterson, Joe Republican Not Voting
Sanchez, Kate Republican Not Voting
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting
Tangipa, David J. Republican Not Voting
Wallis, Greg Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass.

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 0004
Total 11004
% of votes cast 73%0%0%27%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Not Voting
Hoover, Josh Republican Not Voting
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting
Tangipa, David J. Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 5 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 5000
Republican 0002
Total 5002
% of votes cast 71%0%0%29%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Castillo, Leticia Republican Not Voting
Ellis, Stan Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials]

Passed 9 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 8001
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 0003
Total 9004
% of votes cast 69%0%0%31%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Ávila Farías — Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Not Voting
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Not Voting
Gallagher, James Republican Not Voting
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights environment agriculture
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does AB 2218 do?
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 policies, regulations, permits, or grant criteria to address identified inequities. The bill would require those state entities to identify and offer financial assistance to the tribes consistent with existing legal and policy requirements for financial assistance programs. If there is a dispute between a California Native American tribe and one of those state agencies over the implementation of that policy, the bill would require that matter to be brought before the Governor's Office of Tribal Affairs for mediation before the state agency action is challenged in court and would specify procedures and timelines for mediation, as provided. Existing law authorizes the board to conduct investigations and to issue information orders in administering water rights, as provided. The bill would require the state board, in furtherance of an investigation and upon request, to consult with a tribe whose ancestral territory includes the water body or water bodies at issue for the claimed riparian or appropriative right.
Who sponsors AB 2218?
AB 2218 is sponsored by Rogers, Chris (Democratic) and Kalra, Ash (Democratic).
What is the current status of AB 2218?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 19, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 2218?
Track AB 2218 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on AB 2218

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of AB 2218

Last checked for changes 1 day ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →