The Barbed Wire - April 12, 2024

April 12, 2024
State Announces Gray Wolf Fund Exhausted, Applications Frozen
Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 1222 (Alvarado-Gil) – Community Colleges Study
RCRC-Sponsored Organic Waste Legislation Passes First Legislative Committee
California Energy Commission Proposes Triennial Update to Building Energy Efficiency Standards
$60 Million Announced for Climate Resilient Transportation Infrastructure and Evacuation Routes in California
EPA Releases Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
BULLETIN BOARD
WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

State Announces Gray Wolf Fund Exhausted, Applications Frozen

On Thursday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that applications will no longer be accepted for the CDFW Wolf Livestock Compensation Grants program. The program, which was funded in 2021 due to efforts by RCRC and other stakeholders, has exhausted its initial $3 million and awaits its fate as the Administration and Legislature advance through the 2024-25 State Budget process.  

RCRC has continued discussions with the California Natural Resources Agency and CDFW throughout the process, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the funding as part of the current budget discussions. Impacted counites are encouraged to voice their concerns directly to the Legislature. See the template letter available here. For more information on the program, visit CDFW’s website. For questions or additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton

 

Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 1222 (Alvarado-Gil) – Community Colleges Study

The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is sponsoring Senate Bill 1222 (Alvarado-Gil).  This measure would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to conduct a study evaluating the educational needs and opportunities that exist for the five rural counties that are not included in a California Community College (CCC) district. RCRC Second Vice Chair and Mariposa County Supervisor, Miles Menetrey, testified before the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, April 10th, in support of this measure. 

At present, the RCRC member counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra are wholly or partially outside an existing CCC district, leaving those residents without access to the affordable postsecondary educational opportunities necessary to meet the unique challenges of workforce development, vocational training, and higher education. SB 1222 would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to gather and analyze data and make policy recommendations in a report to the Legislature. The report, developed in consultation with a working group comprised of representatives from the public higher education system and the affected counties, will present suggested pathways that will ensure all Californians have an equitable opportunity to higher education. 

SB 1222 has passed the Senate Education Committee and awaits consideration in Appropriations. For questions or additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Tracy Rhine

 

RCRC-Sponsored Organic Waste Legislation Passes First Legislative Committee

On April 8th, RCRC-sponsored AB 2902 (Wood, D-Healdsburg) passed the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.  This measure seeks to provide additional flexibility to local governments and CalRecycle in implementing CalRecycle’s SB 1383 organic waste diversion regulations.  

AB 2902 extends the existing rural exemption under which the state’s 19 counties with fewer than 70,000 residents (and cities within those counties) are exempt from SB 1383’s collection and procurement obligations. Those 19 counties are Lake; San Benito; Tehama; Tuolumne; Calaveras; Siskiyou; Amador; Lassen; Glenn; Del Norte; Colusa; Inyo; Plumas; Mariposa; Trinity; Mono; Modoc; Sierra; and Alpine.  The bill also provides three years for rural jurisdictions that outgrow that population cap to come into full compliance with SB 1383.  

For slightly larger counties, AB 2902 allows the 12 “non-rural” counties that generate less than 200,000 tons of solid waste annually (El Dorado, Humboldt, Imperial, Kings, Mendocino, Madera, Napa, Nevada, Shasta, Yuba, Sutter, and Yolo Counties) to submit an alternative organic waste management plan for most of their unincorporated areas to CalRecycle for approval.  That process is expected to provide more flexibility for CalRecycle to take into consideration and accommodate unique local needs and challenges.  

AB 2902 also seeks to provide more flexibility for CalRecycle to consider granting additional “elevation waivers” for areas below 4,500’ in elevation and where nearby bear populations pose a public safety and animal welfare risk.  Other components of AB 2902 seek to increase local benefits from edible food recovery programs; sustain the use of organics for local animal feed practices; promote carbon farming; adjust procurement targets to exclude populations covered by exemptions; facilitate the development of smaller-scale community composting programs; and reinforce existing caselaw that local compost and mulch give aways as well as rebates are not a gift of public funds.  

Amendments taken in the Natural Resources Committee extend the rural exemption for another ten years and allow CalRecycle to further extend those exemptions for additional periods of up to ten years each.  Other amendments clarify and improve the bill.  AB 2902 now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration. 

RCRC’s letter of support is available here.  RCRC appreciates the nearly two dozen counties and organizations that have submitted letters in support of AB 2902. For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy. 

California Energy Commission Proposes Triennial Update to Building Energy Efficiency Standards

On March 29th, the California Energy Commission (CEC) commenced the 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards update. This is a triennial rulemaking process to update the California Energy Code and changes would become effective January 1, 2026. Among numerous other provisions, proposed amendments to the 2025 Energy Code would update prescriptive heat pump requirements and their associated performance baselines for newly constructed single-family, multifamily, and certain nonresidential buildings. Additionally, the CEC is proposing to introduce prescriptive heat pump requirements for individual domestic water heating systems serving individual dwelling units in low rise multifamily buildings; would establish electric-ready requirements for multifamily domestic water heating systems; and would establish electric-ready requirements for commercial kitchens.  

The CEC estimates that these code changes will “increase the deployment and grid benefits of on-site renewable energy generation, increase flexibility of energy demand, reduce carbon emissions from new buildings (building decarbonization), reduce growth in energy demand, and ensure that California buildings are as energy efficient as possible while also being technically feasible and cost-effective.” The CEC has determined that there may be incremental costs to individual homeowners, but long-term savings may repay those costs.  

Public hearings will be held April 16, 17, and 18, 2024 with in-person and/or remote participation options; the agenda can be viewed here. Day 1 of the public hearings will largely cover field verification and diagnostic testing requirements, acceptance test technician requirements, and other general requirements of the Energy Code. Public hearing Day 2 will focus on nonresidential buildings and covered process requirements, while Day 3 will cover single-family and multifamily home requirements. Written comments will be accepted to the docket through May 13, 2024. For questions, please contact RCRC Policy Advocate Leigh Kammerich.

$60 Million Announced for Climate Resilient Transportation Infrastructure and Evacuation Routes in California

On April 8th, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla announced that California will receive $60.6 million to help communities across the state better prepare for and respond to extreme weather events like wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat. This funding was made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which established the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Grant Program. Learn about the PROTECT Grant Program here.

The list of project applicants receiving funding in California includes: 

  • City of Davis (in Yolo County) — $23,989,290: The City of Davis will receive nearly $24 million to install cool pavement technologies and replace roadway underlayment to rehabilitate several portions of roadways across 15 project locations. The project will help guard against extreme heat conditions and combat heat island effects, enhance roadways, and make other safety improvements that will benefit all road users, but especially active transportation users. 
     

  • County of Tulare — $5,340,000: The County of Tulare will receive over $5.3 million to improve an approximately two-mile segment of Avenue 56 to protect a critical evacuation route for the community. Recent historic rainfall caused significant flooding that prompted the evacuation of the rural Alpaugh community and the construction of a temporary elevated roadway. This project will construct a permanent elevated roadway and widen the roadway to ensure it will be operational during future flooding events. 
     

  • California Department of Transportation — $4,100,000: The California Department of Transportation will receive $4.1 million to develop a plan that identifies evacuation route improvements for State Routes 96 and 169, focusing on resilience elements against wildfire, extreme weather impacts, and other climate related events. This project will improve and protect access for disadvantaged communities, including Hoopa, Karuk, Yurok and Tsnungwe Tribes, to obtain goods, services, and medical care, connection to cultural resources, and emergency access in and out of the region. 
     

  • Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (in Placer County) — $1,749,955: The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency will receive over $1.7 million to develop and implement a Resilience Improvement Plan that assesses the transportation system’s vulnerabilities in the face of wildfires, extreme winter weather events and other emergencies. The project also will upgrade the region’s communications infrastructure to ensure that transportation and utility entities, fire service, law enforcement, environmental organizations and community-based groups can benefit from an integrated, efficient, safe evacuation during emergencies.

EPA Releases Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

On April 10, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) concerning six PFAS compounds. The decision was informed by an extensive review of over 120,000 public comments on the proposed rule, as well as input gathered through various consultations and engagements with stakeholders conducted both before and after the proposal. To assist in meeting these new standards, the EPA has committed funding to ensure universal access to clean and safe water. Alongside the final rule, $1 billion has been allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to aid states and territories in implementing PFAS testing and treatment in public water systems, as well as assisting owners of private wells in addressing PFAS contamination. 

The finalized NPDWR sets legally binding Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six PFAS in drinking water: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFAS mixtures containing two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS, utilizing a Hazard Index MCL to consider the combined and co-occurring levels of these PFAS. Additionally, the EPA has established health-based, non-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for these PFAS. In California, numerous public water systems, ranging from Metropolitan Oakland International Airport and Naval Air Station Alameda in the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles International Airport and Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego County, have detected PFAS contamination. 

Key provisions of the final rule include: 

  • Mandatory monitoring of these PFAS by public water systems within three years (by 2027) and continuous compliance monitoring thereafter. Water systems are also required to disclose information on the levels of these PFAS in drinking water beginning in 2027. 

  • Implementation of solutions by public water systems within five years (by 2029) if monitoring indicates that drinking water levels exceed the established MCLs. 

  • Action requirement for public water systems with PFAS levels violating the MCLs within five years (by 2029), including reducing the levels of these PFAS in drinking water and notifying the public of the violation.

BULLETIN BOARD

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.

 

Webinar Opportunity for Public Defenders

Is your jurisdiction seeking to strengthen Sixth Amendment protections? Join the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Center for Justice Innovation, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on April 23, 2024, at 2:00 pm Eastern for a 45-minute webinar to discuss exciting opportunities for no-cost training and technical assistance through BJA’s Justice for All program

Register here: Webinar Registration - Zoom

 

Opportunity for Rural Counties through NACo's Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility (RLEM) Initiative

RLEM is a new peer-learning opportunity for rural local government leaders to advance upward economic mobility to help individuals and families move out of poverty. Applications are due on Monday, April 22 at 11:59pm ET, submit to economicmobility@naco.org.

  • Who should apply? RLEM members will consist of two-person teams from 10 counties, parishes or boroughs with populations of under 50,000. Teams will include one elected leader and one government employee or community member tasked with implementing data-driven programs and policies.
  • Why participate? RLEM will connect you with other local government leaders and help members learn how to use tools for developing policies, programs and funding for place-based approaches to economic mobility. Each RLEM member will receive travel funding to participate in all in-person activities and a $50,000 grant to the participants’ local government to help with capacity building needs.
  • For more information: Visit naco.org/program/RLEM/apply or register to attend a virtual information session on Wednesday, April 3 at 3pm ET.

 

Employment Opportunities

Colusa County

Colusa County is seeking an Assistant County Administrative Officer. Salary: $132,300.00 - $216,780.00. This recruitment is open until filled. To learn more or to apply, see here. Colusa County offers an excellent benefit package.

Mendocino County

  • Facility Project Specialist I. Saraly range: $67,870.40 - $82,492.80 annually. The position closes April 21, 2024, 11:59 PM. For more information or to apply, see here.
  • Facility Project Specialist II. Saraly range: $74,796.80 - $90, 896.00 annually. The position closes April 21, 2024, 11:59 PM. For more information or to apply, see here.
  • County Counsel. Salary range: $200,000 Annually. This position is open until filled. For more information or to apply, see here.
  • Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures. - $40,000 hiring bonus! Salary range: $125,112.00 - $152,068.80 annually. This position is open until filled. For more information, or to apply, see here.
  • Assistant Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures. - $20,000 hiring bonus! Salary range: $88,899.20 - $108,076.80 annually. This position is open until filled. For more information, or to apply, see here.

San Benito County

San Benito County Council of Governments is seeking a Transportation Planner II/III. Salary: $64,916-$100,692 Annually. This recruitment will remain open until filled. To learn more or to apply, click here. San Benito County offers an excellent benefit package.

CCDEH and CAEHA Seeking Shared Executive Director and Advocate (Sacramento - Remote)

The California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH) and California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (CAEHA) are seeking to fill a shared executive director and advocate position in Sacramento. This is a full-time position shared between these two public health organizations. This position is open through June 1, 2024, 5:00 PM, or until filled. Compensation and benefits are negotiable. Submit resumes by email to justin@ccdeh.com. To learn more, see the job announcement here.

CCDEH is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was established in 1956 to promote public environmental health in California – especially at the local government level. CCDEH has three staff and a budget of approximately $.5million. CAEHA is a 501(c)(4) non-profit established in 1968 with 3 staff and a budget of approximately $2.0million. CAEHA serves CCDEH and local environmental health programs through state-wide advocacy and staffing support. Both organizations work closely with the hazardous materials and 
safety regulators in the California Unified Program. The incumbent will be expected to advocate on behalf of the local Unified Program agencies as well as CCDEH. For additional information on these organizations see: www.ccdeh.org, www.caeha.net, and www.calcupa.org.

 

2024 Public Meetings of the Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Collaborative

Mark your calendars for the 2024 meetings of the Department of Water Resources DRIP (Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners) meetings. Members of the public may observe each meeting and provide public comments in-person (Sacramento) or remotely. Click the links below for information about each meeting.

April 26, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

July 12, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

October 18, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 

Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities

Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to your inbox

WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS

RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications.

 

A Legacy of Giving  – National Mortgage Professional

Over three decades, GSFA expanded from housing financing to include energy efficiency financing, funding over $1 billion across 36,200 projects since 2010 while providing $3.5 million in emergency assistance to wildfire survivors for housing and rebuilding.

 

Butte County receives $5.6 million grant for Drought Resilience and Outreach Project – KRCR TV

On Tuesday, the Butte County Emergency Management accepted $5.6 million in grant funding for the Drought Resilience and Outreach Project (DROP).

 

El Dorado County residents scramble to find home insurance in wildfire-prone area: "It's becoming a crisis." – CBS Sacramento

With major insurance companies announcing they would not renew California home insurance policies, some people in El Dorado County were left scrambling. Many community members said they've either been dropped from their policy altogether or they can't afford the price anymore.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Information related to the current status of legislation impacting California’s rural counties.

AB 6   (Friedman)   Transportation planning: regional transportation plans: Solutions for Congested Corridors Program: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.   This bill would have amended reporting and transportation project review requirements, under SB 375 (2008), for the state’s 18 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), for project information pertaining to climate and greenhouse gas emissions impacts. The bill would have required MPOs to send technical methodologies to CA Air Resources Board for review before project selection and approval can commence.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was TRANS. on 6/14/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 7   (Friedman)   Transportation: planning: project selection processes.   This bill would have required all transportation projects funded, at least in part, through major state or federal funding programs to incorporate several, specified principles that include improving road safety, conformity with federal streamlined project principles, ADA compliance, water and air quality impacts, climate impacts, and access to disadvantaged communities, among others.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/11/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 62   (Mathis)   Statewide water storage: expansion.   Would have established a statewide goal to increase above- and below-ground water storage capacity by a total of 3,700,000 acre-feet by the year 2030 and a total of 4,000,000 acre-feet by the year 2040. The bill would have required the Department of Water Resources, in consultation with the state board, to take reasonable actions to promote or assist efforts to achieve the statewide goal, as provided. The bill would require the department, beginning July 1, 2027, and on or before July 1 every 2 years thereafter until January 1, 2043, in consultation with the state board, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on the progress made to achieve the statewide goal.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 66   (Mathis)   Natural Resources Agency: water storage projects: permit approval.   Would have required CA Natural Resources Agency, or the relevant state agency, to approve the necessary permits for specified storage projects within 180 days from receiving a permit application, and would deem those permits approved if approval does not occur within this time period.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 68   (Ward)   Land use: streamlined housing approvals: density, subdivision, and utility approvals.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   No Position   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 422   (Alanis)   Natural Resources Agency: statewide water storage: tracking.   Would have required CA Natural Resources Agency, on or before June 1, 2024, to post on its publicly available internet website information tracking the progress to increase statewide water storage, and to keep that information updated.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 429   (Bennett)   Groundwater wells: permits.   If 1% of domestic wells were to go dry in a critically overdrafted basin, this bill would prohibit a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency from approving a permit for a new groundwater well or for an alteration to an existing well in a basin subject to the act and classified as a critically overdrafted basin unless the city county or well permitting agency obtains written verification from a groundwater sustainability agency that the proposed well would not be inconsistent with any sustainable groundwater management program AND the proposed well would not decrease the likelihood of achieving a sustainability goal for the basin covered by the plan.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 460   (Bauer-Kahan)   State Water Resources Control Board: water rights and usage: interim relief: procedures.   This bill would authorize CA State Water Board to issue, on its own motion or upon the petition of an interested party, an interim relief order in appropriate circumstances to implement or enforce these and related provisions of law. The bill would provide that a person or entity that violates any interim relief order issued by the board would be liable to the board for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed the sum of $10,000 for each day in which a violation occurs and $5,000 for each acre-foot of water diverted in violation of the interim relief order.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 6/7/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 491   (Wallis)   Local government: fines and penalties.   would provide effectual tools for addressing illicit land use activities, including unlicensed cannabis operations by (1) streamlined judicial reviewed for minor administrative penalties (under $25,000) imposed for unpermitted cannabis activities; (2) efficient collection of final penalty order (i.e. after administrative/judicial review is complete), in the same manner presently used for pesticide enforcement fines; (3) clarifies that priority of real property liens used to collect administrative penalties for these violations, by providing that such liens have the same priority as a judgement lien.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 9/25/2023-Measure version as amended on September 13 corrected.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 817   (Pacheco)   Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body.   AB 817 would provide a narrow exemption under the Ralph M.Brown Act for non-decision-making legislative bodies currently governed by Act, such as advisory bodies and commissions, to participate in two-way virtual teleconferencing without posting physical location of members. In addition, AB 817 would remove barriers to entry for appointed and elected office by allowing non-decision-making legislative bodies to participate virtually as long as they do not have the ability to take final action on legislation, regulations, contracts, licenses, permits, or other entitlements.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 1/25/2024-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 54. Noes 8.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1168   (Bennett)   Emergency medical services (EMS): prehospital EMS.   Would overturn an extensive statutory and case law record that has repeatedly affirmed county responsibility for the administration of emergency medical services and with that, the flexibility to design systems to equitably serve residents throughout their jurisdiction.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/12/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1272   (Wood)   State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning.   This bill would have required State Water Board to establish a program, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, to adopt principles and guidelines for diversion and use of water in coastal watersheds, as specified, during times of water shortage for drought preparedness and climate resiliency. The bill would have required that the principles and guidelines provide for the development of watershed-level plans to support public trust uses, public health and safety, and the human right to water in times of water shortage, among other things.   Location: Senate Desk   Status: 9/14/2023-Withdrawn from Engrossing and Enrolling. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1337   (Wicks)   State Water Resources Control Board: water diversion curtailment.   This bill would have expanded the instances when the diversion or use of water is considered a trespass, and would have directed State Water Board to adopt regulations for various water conservation purposes, including, but not limited to, to prevent the waste, unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method of diversion of water, and to implement these regulations through orders curtailing the diversion or use of water under any claim of right.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 6/7/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1563   (Bennett)   Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification.   This bill would have required a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency to obtain a written verification from the groundwater sustainability agency that manages the basin or area of the basin where the well is proposed to be located determining that, among other things, the extraction by the proposed well is consistent with any sustainable groundwater management program.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was GOV. & F. on 6/22/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1616   (Lackey)   California Cannabis Tax Fund: Board of State and Community Corrections grants.   AB 1616 would require the Board of State and Community Corrections to prioritize local governments whose programs seek to address the unlawful cultivation and sale of cannabis when disbursing grants from California Cannabis Tax Fund. The bill would also authorize the board to make grants to local governments that ban both indoor and outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation or ban retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products.   Location: Senate Public Safety   Status: 6/26/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB S. (Ayes 9. Noes 2.) (June 26). Re-referred to Com. on PUB S.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1785   (Pacheco)   California Public Records Act.   Would prohibit local agencies from posting an assessor’s parcel number associated with an elected or appointed official on the internet without their written permission.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/4/2024-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1951   (Fong, Vince)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: roadside wildfire prevention projects.   would statutorily exempt from CEQA fuels reduction projects, including removal of trees and brush within 50’ of either side of a roadway. AB 1951 would fill gaps where such work would not qualify for existing statutory or categorical CEQA exemptions and is not covered by CalFire’s Vegetation Treatment Program (VTP) Environmental Impact Report (EIR).   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 4/1/2024-Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1957   (Wilson)   Public contracts: best value construction contracting for counties.   would authorize any county in the state to utilize the best-value contracting model and eliminates the statutory sunset on such authority.   Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 4/9/2024-Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2037   (Papan)   Weights and measures: electric vehicle chargers.   Current law regulates advertising that indicates the price of motor vehicle fuel, including electricity sold as a motor vehicle fuel. Current law requires a county sealer to enforce the advertising requirements. Current law defines “correct,” for purposes of testing and verifying the accuracy of a weighing or measuring device, as a weight or measure or a weighing, measuring, or counting instrument that meets certain tolerance and specification requirements. This bill would authorize a county sealer to test and verify as correct any electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as defined, that is located in the county in which the sealer has jurisdiction. The bill would require a county sealer to condemn and seize, or cause to be marked with a tag or other device with the words “out of order,” an incorrect, as defined, electronic vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as specified. The bill would authorize a county board of supervisors to charge an annual registration fee for the cost of inspecting and testing an electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as specified.   Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 4/11/2024-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2079   (Bennett)   Groundwater extraction: large-diameter, high-capacity wells: permits.   The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. Current law authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin and imposes specified duties upon that agency or combination of agencies, as provided. Current law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt a model water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment ordinance implementing certain standards for water well construction, maintenance, and abandonment and requires each county, city, or water agency, where appropriate, not later than January 15, 1990, to adopt a water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment ordinance that meets or exceeds certain standards. Under current law, if a county, city, or water agency, where appropriate, fails to adopt an ordinance establishing water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment standards, the model ordinance adopted by the state board is required to take effect on February 15, 1990, and is required to be enforced by the county or city and have the same force and effect as if adopted as a county or city ordinance. This bill would require a local enforcement agency, as defined, to perform specified activities at least 30 days before determining whether to approve a permit for a new large-diameter, high-capacity well, as defined. By imposing additional requirements on a local enforcement agency, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.   Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 4/1/2024-Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2104   (Soria)   Community colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program.     Location: Assembly Higher Education   Status: 2/20/2024-Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2266   (Petrie-Norris)   California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project: vehicle eligibility.   Requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to authorize a voucher for a public or private fleet issued under the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project program to be used for the acquisition of a zero-emission vehicle with a gross vehicle weight greater than 8,500 pounds.   Location: Assembly Transportation   Status: 4/4/2024-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Leigh (1)

AB 2276   (Wood)   Forestry: timber harvesting plans: exemptions.   AB 2276 extends the sunset date to January 1, 2031 for three important exemptions from timber harvest plan requirements necessary for small land owners to perform fuels treatment and vegetation maintenance on their properties for the purpose of wildfire mitigation.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/6/2024-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2302   (Addis)   Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.     Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 4/11/2024-From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 10).   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2330   (Holden)   Endangered species: incidental take: wildfire preparedness activities.   AB 2330 would streamline the process for fuels treatment projects for local governments that require an incidental take of a candidate species.   Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 4/2/2024-Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2344   (Petrie-Norris)   Fire prevention: grant programs: reporting.   AB 2344 would require the Governor's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to publicly post information regarding the allocation of funds from grant programs to provide better information regarding how the state's resources are being utilized for forest resilience projects.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/10/2024-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2346   (Lee)   Organic waste reduction regulations: procurement of recovered organic waste products.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/11/2024-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2514   (Aguiar-Curry)   Solid waste: organic waste: diversion: hydrogen: biomethane.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/11/2024-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2528   (Arambula)   Williamson Act contracts: cancellation: energy projects.   The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to enter into contracts with owners of agricultural land to preserve the land to agricultural use, as specified. Current law authorizes the cancellation of a contract under certain circumstances. Current law requires the city or county to execute and record a certificate of cancellation of contract if the city and county approves a cancellation of a contract. Current law authorizes the city or county to charge a cancellation fee in an amount equal to 12.5% of the cancellation valuation of the property. This bill would instead require that the cancellation fees be transmitted by the county treasurer to the Controller within 45 days of the execution of a certification of cancellation of contract.   Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 4/8/2024-Re-referred to Coms. on U. & E. and AGRI. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2746   (Villapudua)   Streamlined housing approvals: multifamily housing developments: agricultural employee housing.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 4/11/2024-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended.    Staff:  John (1)

AB 2787   (Patterson, Joe)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/9/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2902   (Wood)   Organic waste: reduction regulations: exemptions.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/11/2024-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 3011   (Bains)   Electricity: rates: unreasonable hardship.     Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 3/11/2024-Referred to Com. on U. & E.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

AB 3150   (Quirk-Silva)   Fire safety: fire hazard severity zones: defensible space: State Fire Marshal.     Location: Assembly Emergency Management   Status: 4/11/2024-Re-referred to Com. on E.M.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 23   (Caballero)   Water supply and flood risk reduction projects: expedited permitting.   This bill would have authorized a state agency, defined to mean any agency, board, or commission, including the state board or the regional boards, with the power to issue a permit that would authorize a water supply project or authorize a flood risk reduction project, to take specified actions in order to complete permit review and approval in an expeditious manner. The bill would have made findings and declarations related to the need to expedite water supply projects and flood risk reduction projects to better address climate change impacts while protecting the environment.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 399   (Wahab)   Employer communications: intimidation.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/1/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was APPR. on 7/11/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 418   (Padilla)   California Prison Redevelopment Commission.   Would establish the California Prison Redevelopment Commission and articulate its responsibilities including its composition, with a focus on developing recommendations for repurposing closed state prison facilities.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/1/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 584   (Limón)   Laborforce housing: Short-Term Rental Tax Law.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/29/2023-June 28 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 624   (Alvarado-Gil)   Horse racing: state-designated fairs: allocation of revenues: gross receipts for sales and use tax.     Location: Assembly Revenue and Taxation Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-July 10 set for first hearing. Placed on REV. & TAX. suspense file. July 10 hearing. Held in committee and under submission.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 675   (Limón)   Prescribed grazing: local assistance grant program: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/12/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 820   (Alvarado-Gil)   Cannabis: enforcement: seizure of property.   Adapts the same seizure of property provisions currently applicable to unlicensed manufacturing of alcoholic beverages (i.e., moonshining), to cover unlicensed commercial cannabis activities. In addition, SB 820 would invest enforcement proceeds in the Cannabis Control Fund to support equity business.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 1/29/2024-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 945   (Alvarado-Gil)   The Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act.   SB 945, the Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act, would require the State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, and the State Air Resources Board to create, operate, and maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform that, among other things, would integrate wildfire smoke and health data from multiple databases.   Location: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 4/5/2024-Set for hearing April 17.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 946   (McGuire)   Personal Income Tax Law: Corporation Tax Law: exclusions: wildfire mitigation payments.   SB 946 would exclude payments from the California Wildfire Mitigation Program, the state's pilot grant program to aid low income homeowners with home hardening retrofits, from eligibility for state income taxes.   Location: Senate Revenue and Taxation   Status: 4/3/2024-Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 952   (Dahle)   Personal income taxes: Fire Safe Home Tax Credits Act.   SB 952 would offer tax credits to lower income property owners for home retrofits and vegetation management activities in order to mitigate the risks from high severity wildfire events.   Location: Senate Revenue and Taxation   Status: 4/4/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 960   (Wiener)   Transportation: planning: transit priority projects: multimodal.   Would require all transportation projects funded or overseen by the Department of Transportation to provide comfortable, convenient, and connected complete streets facilities unless an exemption is documented and approved, as specified.   Location: Senate Transportation   Status: 4/2/2024-Set for hearing April 23.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 961   (Wiener)   Vehicles: safety equipment.   The Department of the California Highway Patrol regulates the safe operation of specified vehicles, including motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds, truck tractors, trailers, semitrailers, and buses. Current federal law regulates required safety equipment on vehicles, including rear impact guards on certain large trucks to prevent rear underrides in collisions with passenger vehicles. This bill would require certain trucks and trailers to also be equipped with side guards, as specified.   Location: Senate Transportation   Status: 4/4/2024-Set for hearing April 23.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 973   (Grove)   Williamson Act: cancellation: solar energy projects.   The Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land located in an agricultural preserve designated by the city or county to preserve the land, subject to conditions of the contract, that may include an agreement to a specified valuation of the land for purposes of property taxation. The act authorizes a landowner to petition the city council or board of supervisors, as applicable, for cancellation of the contract under specified circumstances and imposes a cancellation fee equal to 12.5% of the fair market value of the land without the restriction of the contract. This bill would authorize a board or council to grant a petition for cancellation where the land subject to the contract is located in a basin under the jurisdiction of an adjudicated watermaster or the groundwater sustainability agency. The bill would require the landowner to commit to limiting the amount of water rights to a specific solar energy project, as defined, that uses less water than the agricultural use. The bill would also require the board or council to make specified findings, including that the solar energy project use is being permitted that will use less water than the agricultural use.   Location: Senate Local Government   Status: 2/21/2024-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and E.Q.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1004   (Wilk)   Income taxes: exclusions: wildfires.   SB 1004, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020, would provide an exclusion from gross income for any qualified taxpayer, as defined, for amounts received for costs and losses associated with wildfires.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/8/2024-April 8 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1045   (Blakespear)   Composting facilities: zoning: air and water permits.     Location: Senate Local Government   Status: 4/10/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1046   (Laird)   Organic waste reduction: program environmental impact report: small and medium compostable material handling facilities or operations.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/11/2024-April 15 hearing postponed by committee.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1060   (Becker)   Property insurance underwriting: risk models.   SB 1060 would require companies offering property insurance in California and utilizing risk assessment models in their underwriting to account for home hardening, defensible space, and community wildfire risk mitigation measures in their models.   Location: Senate Insurance   Status: 4/9/2024-Set for hearing April 24.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1064   (Laird)   Cannabis: operator and separate premises license types: excessive concentration of licenses.     Location: Senate B., P. & E.D.   Status: 4/3/2024-Re-referred to Com. on B., P. & E. D.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1066   (Blakespear)   Hazardous waste: marine flares: producer responsibility.     Location: Senate Judiciary   Status: 4/5/2024-Set for hearing April 16.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1116   (Portantino)   Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits.     Location: Senate L., P.E. & R.   Status: 2/21/2024-Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1143   (Allen)   Household hazardous waste: producer responsibility.     Location: Senate Judiciary   Status: 4/5/2024-Set for hearing April 16.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1156   (Hurtado)   Groundwater sustainability agencies: financial disclosures.   The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. Existing law requires a groundwater sustainability plan to be developed and implemented for each medium- or high-priority basin by a groundwater sustainability agency. Current law authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin, as provided. Current provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 prohibit a public official from making, participating in making, or attempting to use their official position to influence a governmental decision in which they know or have reason to know that they have a financial interest, as defined. However, current law permits a public official to make or participate in the making of a governmental decision, even if the public official knows or has reason to know that the official has a financial interest, if the official’s participation is legally required for the action or decision to be made. Current law makes a knowing or willful violation of the act a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties. This bill would require members of the executive team, board of directors, and other groundwater management decision makers of groundwater sustainability agencies to annually disclose any economic or financial interests pursuant to the Political Reform Act of 1974 that may reasonably be considered to affect their decision-making related to groundwater management, as provided.   Location: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments   Status: 4/9/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E. & C.A. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.   Position:   No Position   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1159   (Dodd)   California Environmental Quality Act: roadside wildfire risk reduction projects.     Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 4/5/2024-Set for hearing April 23.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1175   (Ochoa Bogh)   Organic waste: reduction goals: local jurisdictions: waivers.   Would require the State Air Resources Board to consider alternatives to census tracts, as provided, when deciding the boundaries of a low-population or elevation waiver and would require low-population waivers to be valid for a period of 10 years.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/8/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1269   (Padilla)   Safety net hospitals.     Location: Senate Health   Status: 4/3/2024-Set for hearing April 24.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1280   (Laird)   Waste management: propane cylinders: reusable or refillable.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/11/2024-April 15 hearing postponed by committee.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)