Legislation to curb water use for irrigation clears California Assembly

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A pair of California bills aimed at curbing water use for landscaping has cleared the California State Assembly.

On Wednesday, AB 1573, which requires the use of California native plants, and AB 1572, banning the use of potable water for irrigation on non-functional turf, passed onto the Senate.

What You Need To Know

• AB 1573 requires the use of native plants in new and renovated commercial and industrial areas, including parking lots
• AB 1572 prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate any turf that isn’t used for recreation or community space
• The bills passed the California State Assembly Wednesday
• If passed, AB 1573 would be phased in starting Jan. 1, 2026, and AB 1572 would phase in starting Jan. 1, 2027

“Landscaping has so much potential to support California’s important goals to conserve water, support biodiversity and connect more people to nature,” Assembly member Laura Friedman, D-Burbank, said in a statement.

Friedman is the author of both bills.

AB 1573 is the first bill of its kind that seeks to replace the use of decorative grasses in new and renovated commercial and industrial areas, including parking lots.

If signed into law, it would require that […]

Full article: spectrumnews1.com