Laird Named to Lead Assembly Working Group on Statewide Water Issues

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker Núñez has named Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) to lead the Assembly working group focused on the special session on statewide water issues.  The special session was called for by the governor.

In his role in the working group, Assemblymember Laird is expected to lead discussions between the governor, the Senate and the Assembly as they craft legislation to address various water issues facing California.  In addition to Mr. Laird, members of the Assembly working group include Lois Wolk (D-Davis), Juan Arambula (D-Fresno), Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista), Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank), Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park). 

The working group is expected to begin meeting next week.

Laird background on state water issues

A long-time leader on water issues, Mr. Laird authored a number of bills in 2007 related to flood control and water conservation that have been sent to the governor for his approval, including AB 156 (flood control planning), AB 715 (high-efficiency toilets), AB 1404 (urban and agricultural water use measurement), and AB 1420 (urban water conservation).

In 2006, Mr. Laird authored three bills on flood control and water conservation that were signed by the governor, including AB 984 (eradication of water-consuming, non-native Tamarisk along the Colorado River), AB 1881 (urban water conservation) and AB 2348 (Pajaro River levee repair).

In addition to serving as chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, Mr. Laird is a member of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.  In his first term, Mr. Laird served as chair of the Assembly Select Committee on California Water Needs and Climate Change.