Notice of Proposition 4 Appropriations Approved

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is pleased to announce that Proposition 4 appropriations have been approved by the legislature. This important milestone allows the Department to begin administering funding to support new and existing programs, and you will begin seeing more updates from the Department soon.

We also want to let you know about an important change in how these programs will be carried out.

In the past, DWR has received an exemption from the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and issued program guidelines to explain how funding would be used. This approach allowed us to move programs forward quickly without going through a formal regulatory process.

For Proposition 4, however, the trailer bill directs DWR to develop emergency regulations. This means OAL will review and approve the regulations before programs launch. While this process may take additional time, it provides added structure and consistency in how programs are implemented. DWR is currently reviewing how this new requirement will affect programs, including the schedule to finalize guidelines and fund projects. To assist with understanding this new requirement, DWR has compiled a few resources below:

• How to Comment on Emergency Rulemaking Actions
• About the Emergency Rulemaking Process
• Public Resource Code 90135 (e) (the statute on emergency regulations for Proposition 4)

DWR remains committed to rolling out Proposition 4 programs as efficiently and transparently as possible, and we will continue to share updates as implementation moves forward.

For information about DWR’s grant programs and future funding opportunities:

• Sign up for DWR’s email notification lists.
• Check the California Grants Portal for upcoming grant opportunities.
• For assistance or questions about eligible funding, contact DWR’s Project Services Office at Funding@water.ca.gov.