New Bill Aims to Require Enforceable Nitrogen Limits for Irrigated Agriculture
Published Friday, February 27, 2026
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, introduced Assembly Bill 2447, the Water Supply Protection Act, in February 2026 to regulate agricultural nitrogen pollution in California. It directs the California State Water Resources Control Board by July 1, 2027, to establish a statewide methodology for reporting nitrogen balances, accounting for soil nitrogen, and setting enforceable limits on nitrogen discharges from croplands. The bill is sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The bill guts precedential provisions of the East San Joaquin Order and ignores current work by the state water board’s second agricultural expert panel and active litigation.
Staff contacts: Kari Fisher, kfisher@cfbf.com; Alexandra Biering, abiering@cfbf.com.
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