CA AB2304

Establishes the California Water Market Clearinghouse as an independent office within the Natural Resources Agency on July 1, 2018, to make water transfer and exchange processes more transparent and efficient.

Requires the clearinghouse to create a centralized water market platform by December 31, 2018, providing public access to information about water available for transfer and the transfer process.

Mandates that beginning January 1, 2020, all water transfers or exchanges requiring Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta conveyance or inter-watershed transfer must be submitted to the clearinghouse and processed according to established procedures.

Requires the Natural Resources Agency Secretary to convene a Water Market Clearinghouse Task Force by January 1, 2018, to recommend procedures for expedited state agency review of transfers, prioritizing projects with environmental and community benefits.

Establishes an Office of the Water Transfer Advocate within the clearinghouse by December 31, 2018, and creates an administrative fee structure to fund clearinghouse operations through a dedicated state fund.