California Water Agencies Gain Litigation Defense Under New Law

California water consumers will have a narrower window to challenge increases in water and sewer rates under a new law signed Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

The measure (S.B. 323), which passed in the Senate on Sept. 10 on the final day of the California legislative session, creates a 120-day statute of limitations for lawsuits or any other customer challenges of water and sewer rates. The bill gives public water agencies the same protections already afforded to fees and charges that fund other essential government services, said Kristopher Anderson, legislative advocate for the Association of California Water ...