The California Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Right to Clean Water Act (SB 601) with a vote of ten to three on April 29, 2025.
The bill was introduced by Senator Ben Allen in February 2025, with the goal of safeguarding California’s water systems by enshrining into state law protection that were previously guaranteed by the federal Clean Water Act.
“California deserves water protections that represent the nature of our waterways,” said Senator Ben Allen, author of SB 601, in a press release. “Our delicate and now-vulnerable streams and wetlands are interconnected and impact the health of one another across the state. Enshrining the protections provided by SB 601 – the same protections provided by the federal government under the Clean Water Act for decades – will help provide clean water across California for generations to come.”
The bill will help California maintain clean water standards, and it will ensure the efficient development of state permits that offer the same level of protection against pollution that was previously guaranteed through federal law. It will also create a simplified, consistent framework for every clean water permit in the state.
“Californians have enjoyed the right to clean water for more than 50 years,” said Sean Bothwell, executive director of the California Coastkeeper Alliance, in a press release. “Clearly, our state legislators understand what is at stake and are taking a strong stand in favor of this fundamental right. Limiting the impacts of pollution on our waterways is vital to our health and wellbeing.”
According to a press release, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision dramatically weakened clean water protections for many of the creeks, streams and wetlands that feed into California’s rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. There are thousands of these types of waterways in California.
The bill will now move to the Appropriations Committee for approval before moving to the full Senate for consideration.
