CA AB2313

Authorizes the Judicial Council to establish by January 1, 2025 a training and education program for judges on technical, scientific, legal, management, and infrastructure matters relating to water, which may include superior court judges, appellate justices, and State Water Resources Control Board administrative law judges.

Requires courts to prioritize assigning judges with water law training to actions relating to water if a trained judge is available within a reasonable timeframe, and allows courts to request the Judicial Council Chairperson assign a trained judge from another county.

Authorizes the Judicial Council to identify experts in water science, management, or research attorneys available to judges adjudicating water actions, and authorizes the Judicial Council to pay or reimburse courts for costs of employing these experts with appropriated funds.

Allows judges to appoint special masters to assist with water actions, with duties including investigating technical and legal issues, conducting joint factfinding with parties, and investigating the need for preliminary injunctions.

Requires General Fund appropriations to cover reasonable compensation for water experts, research attorneys, special masters, and court-appointed experts in water-related actions under Evidence Code Section 730.