Legislative Affairs
Guided by the TCPUD Board adopted Advocacy Priorities, TCPUD actively engages in and monitors state and federal legislation on important issues including water infrastructure, fire suppression, water use, and outdoor recreation. The Priorities were identified to advance the TCPUD Mission to serve the people in our community, as well as the environment, and provide TCPUD with guidance on advocacy efforts and the flexibility to:
- Sponsor, support, or oppose legislation
- Address federal, state, and local policies and regulations
- Protect TCPUD’s local authority, resources, and customers
Through formal communication and collaborative meetings with elected representatives, advocacy organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies on a wide range of issues, the TCPUD responds to legislation that could impact TCPUD and our constituents.
Locally, TCPUD participates in partnerships that work collaboratively to pursue legislative action and funding mechanisms that promote mutual goals with the Tahoe Basin. The goals include advancing initiatives that support water infrastructure, recreation, transportation, housing, and restoration. These partnerships include the California Tahoe Alliance, the Lake Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership, and the Climate Transformation Alliance.
Read TCPUD's 2025-2026 Advocacy Priorities (PDF - 0.2MB)
Legislative initiatives actively monitored by TCPUD:
- H.R. 582 (Huffman) - Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act
This bill was introduced on January 21, 2025, to establish a community protection and wildfire resilience grant program, providing grants up to $250,000 for development of Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Plan (CPWRP) and up to $10,000,000 to implement the CPWRP. This bill would provide an authorization of $1B to carry out the program for each fiscal year 2025-2029. District staff and partners are tracking this bill for possible expansion to include water infrastructure for fire suppression projects.
- AB 35 (Alvarez) – Proposition 4 Administrative Procedures Act Exemption
Along with partners, the District supports this bill. This bill would exempt Proposition 4 Climate Bond funds from the Administrative Procedures Act, enabling funds to be deployed more quickly and efficiently, while still maintaining transparency, public engagement, fiscal control, and legislative oversight.
- AB 372 (Bennett) – Office of Emergency Services, State Matching Funds, Water System Infrastructure Improvements
AB 372 would establish a grant program within the Office of Emergency Services using Proposition 4 bond funds to support water infrastructure for fire suppression. Introduced in 2025, the bill was later designated a two-year bill to enable the Administration and other beneficiary members of Legislature to develop a strong program framework, with the goal of securing a larger initial funding allocation of $30-50M. The bill is expected to be reconsidered in June 2026. District staff will continue to monitor development of the program proposed under this legislation.
Recently Passed Legislation:
- Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act, a 10-year extension of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA)
S. 612, the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act was enacted into law on October 1, 2024. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and supported by Representatives Mark Amodei (R-NV) and Kevin Kiley (R-CA), extends the authorization of $415 million in funding for environmental enhancement initiatives in the Lake Tahoe Basin until September 30, 2034.
- Proposition 4 Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024
Proposition 4, known as the Climate Bond, was approved by California voters on November 5, 2024. The measure authorizes the state to issue $10 billion in general obligation bonds to fund a wide range of environmental and climate-resilience projects, including climate initiatives, wildfire and forest health programs, and drinking water improvements. Notably, the bond includes language expanding eligibility for water infrastructure used for fire suppression, reflecting the concerted efforts of the District and its partners. The District continues to monitor implementation of Proposition 4.
- AB 339 (Ortega) - Local Public Employee Organizations, Notice Requirements
Chaptered into law on October 13, 2025, AB 339 updated the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act by expanding notice requirements to recognized employee organizations. Public agencies must now provide at least 45 days’ written notice before issuing an RFP, RFQ, or renewing or extending a contract for services that falls within the scope of work of represented job classifications, with limited exceptions. The notice must include key details such as the anticipated contract duration.
Legislative and Advocacy Partnerships
- National Special Districts Association
TCPUD is one of 24 water and fire protection district leaders from nine states that participated in National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) efforts to examine barriers local agencies face to ensure adequate water infrastructure for fire suppression exists within communities. Find the report and learn more about this effort by visiting nationalspecialdistricts.org.
- Tahoe Water for Fire Partnership
TCPUD is one of several water agencies around the Tahoe Basin in both California and Nevada that formed the Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership in response to the 2007 Angora Fire. The Partnership, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and with leadership from the California and Nevada congressional delegations, embarked on an aggressive effort to accelerate the installation of critical water infrastructure to improve water distribution, storage systems, and regional interconnectivity to build capacity for fire suppression.
Learn more about the Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership at tahoewaterforfire.org.
- California Tahoe Alliance
The California Tahoe Alliance (CTA) is a group of 11 organizations including utilities, local governments, non-profits, and community organizations. CTA is committed to working with policymakers to address pressing issues facing the Tahoe Region, including restoring the lake’s clarity in the face of climate change, promoting equitable access to recreation opportunities, reducing wildfire risk and promoting forest health, increasing water and transportation infrastructure, creating resilience for the Tahoe Basin’s ecosystems, and managing demands on recreation in a fragile watershed.
- Wildfire Solutions Coalition
TCPUD joined over two dozen agencies and organizations in forming the Wildfire Solutions Coalition in June 2025. The goal of the Coalition is to secure long-term sustainable funding for community wildfire resilience throughout California. The Wildfire Solutions Coalition is focused on science-based and proactive solutions, including protecting watershed, forests and communities, investing in fire prevention and forest management, workforce development, supporting tribal stewardship and cultural burning.
Preparing Our Community for Wildfire
This video, produced by the California Special Districts Association in collaboration with North Tahoe Fire Protection District, Tahoe City Public Utility District, and North Tahoe Public Utility District, highlights the importance of water infrastructure in fire suppression projects and the challenges local agencies face in securing funding for these critical projects.
Video Credit: California Special Districts Association