California Senate Approves $1B Water Plan Amid Drought

The state Senate has approved a $1 billion proposal to speed up spending on water projects in drought-stricken California.

The Senate this week voted 35-1 on the package to accelerate infrastructure spending.

An accompanying measure authorizing fines for illegal water diversions passed on a party-line vote, with Republicans opposed.

The legislation contains few details about how $660 million set aside for flood protection will be spent for levees, dams and Central Valley communities.

A nonpartisan analyst says lawmakers typically know which flood protection projects they are approving. The legislation also allows state water officials to wait five years to select recipients.