AB 1425: San Joaquin River Parkway: pit dewatering.

California · Assembly · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified February 3, 2026

What AB 1425 does, verified February 3, 2026

The bill aims to prohibit pit dewatering in areas with subsurface river flow or groundwater levels shallower than 50 feet below ground within a specific parkway. This is done to protect the environment and ensure the long-term sustainability of the area. The bill also makes legislative findings and declarations regarding the necessity of a special statute for the parkway. The proposed law is designed to align with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975, which requires permits and reclamation plans for surface mining operations.

Bill journey

✓IntroducedComplete

2In CommitteeCurrent

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Asm. Joaquin ArambulaAuthor · California State Assembly

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Recent actions9 total · showing 5

Feb. 02, 2026	From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Jan. 31, 2026	Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
Apr. 28, 2025	In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.
Apr. 01, 2025	Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
Mar. 28, 2025	Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

Full action history, 4 earlier actionsConnect Plus

Latest bill textAmended version, March 28, 2025 · 446 words

Amended IN Assembly March 28, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1425

Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula

February 21, 2025

An act to ~~amend Section 2206 of~~ add Section 2770.2 to the Public Resources Code, relating to geology.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1425, as amended, Arambula. ~~Geology: ores and minerals.~~ San Joaquin River Parkway: pit dewatering.

The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 prohibits a person, with exceptions, from conducting surface mining operations unless, among other things, a permit is obtained from, a specified reclamation plan is submitted to and approved by, and financial assurances for reclamation have been approved by the lead agency for the operation of the surface mining operation.
This bill would prohibit pit dewatering, as defined, in areas with subsurface river flow or groundwater levels shallower than 50 feet below ground anywhere within the San Joaquin River Parkway, as defined.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the San Joaquin River Parkway.
Existing law authorizes the State Geologist to prepare a special collection of ores and minerals of California to be sent to or used at any world’s fair or exposition in order to display the mineral wealth of the State of California.
~~This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to this provision.~~

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 2770.2 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

2770.2.
(a) A person shall not conduct pit dewatering in areas with subsurface river flow or groundwater levels shallower than 50 feet below ground anywhere within the San Joaquin River Parkway, as defined in the “San Joaquin River Parkway Master Plan Update” from March 2018.
(b) For purposes of this section, “pit dewatering” means any water that is impounded or that collects in the pit and is pumped, drained, or otherwise removed from the pit through the efforts of the pit operator. This term also includes wet pit overflows caused by solely by direct rainfall or ground water seepage.

SEC. 2.
The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique needs of the communities within and surrounding the San Joaquin River Parkway.

SECTION 1.Section 2206 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
2206.
The State Geologist may prepare a special collection of ores and minerals of California to be sent to or used at any world’s fair or exposition in order to display the mineral wealth of the State of California.

Text of AB 1425 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions