The Barbed Wire - April 26, 2024

April 26, 2024
Bill of the Week - Senate Bill 1060 (Becker): Property Insurance Underwriting: Risk Models
USDA Announces Investment in Clean Energy and Domestic Biofuels to Strengthen American Farms and Small Businesses
Bipartisan Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate to Empower Specialty Crop Farmers
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP
WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Bill of the Week - Senate Bill 1060 (Becker): Property Insurance Underwriting: Risk Models

RCRC has expressed support for Senate Bill 1060, authored by Senator Josh Becker. This measure places new requirements on risk models employed by insurers for the purposes of underwriting property insurance.  

Specifically, SB 1060 (Becker) would aid residents looking to keep or obtain insurance policies in high wildfire risk areas by requiring insurers to employ risk models for underwriting purposes that account for wildfire risk reduction associated with hazardous fuel reduction, home hardening, defensible space, and fire prevention activities at both the parcel level as well as community wide. By utilizing models that more correctly account for community- and parcel-level mitigation efforts, insurers will have a more complete picture of the actual wildfire risk of each property owner, which will enable them to make more informed decision about renewals, rate-setting and market saturation.  

In the past decade, RCRC member counties have a disproportionate percentage of residents whose residential property insurance has been nonrenewed due to wildfire risk.  A large majority of our communities are in high or very high hazard severity zones and have seen both dramatic premium increases and drastic spikes in non-renewals even though rural communities statewide have spent billions of dollars on wildfire mitigation efforts. While many rural residents understand that higher costs for coverage will be the new standard under higher wildfire threats, many of them have had to resort to the FAIR Plan for fire insurance coverage and have been effectively priced out of California’s whole-home coverage market. RCRC supports transparency and increased oversight of the modeling practices used by insurers to issue and rate policies for homeowners across California. 

SB 1060 passed the Senate Insurance Committee on Wednesday, April 24, and now awaits action in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  RCRC thanks Board Member and Napa County Supervisor, Anne Cottrell, for testifying on behalf of RCRC member counties in support of the bill. 

RCRC’s letter of support is available here. For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton

USDA Announces Investment in Clean Energy and Domestic Biofuels to Strengthen American Farms and Small Businesses

On April 23rd, U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding more than 700 clean energy projects to lower energy bills, expand access to domestic biofuels and create jobs and new market opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. Twenty-five projects were funded in California, including projects located in the RCRC-member counties of Lake, Monterey, Placer, Plumas, and Solano. Investments in California totaled more than $15 million.  

USDA is providing a total of $238 million in funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). USDA continues to accept REAP applications and will hold funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The funding includes a dedicated portion for underutilized renewable energy technologies.  For additional information, contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will

Bipartisan Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate to Empower Specialty Crop Farmers

On April 19th, U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Specialty Crops Security Act. The legislation increases the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program authorization from $85 to $100 million per year and expands opportunities for specialty crop stakeholders to provide input into how program funding is used by state departments of agriculture. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which are a significant portion of California’s agricultural output. The House companion bill was introduced by U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) earlier this year. The bill is co-sponsored by Alex Padilla (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (D-ME), Ben Luján (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

Board of Forestry Third Workshop on Utility and Public Agency Vegetation Management in Rights-of-Way 

On Wednesday, May 1st, the Board of Forestry will host a third and final workshop to consider amendments to the Forest Practice Rules to address how electric utilities conduct vegetation management work within public rights of way, as well as how public agencies conduct similar work. The focus of the discussion is expected to be on more controversial aspects of amendments requested by PG&E. These amendments would more than double the size of the right-of-way for electric distribution lines under 33KV and significantly increasing those distances for higher voltage lines and telephone cables/open wires. These changes are expected to significantly impact property owners who have distribution and transmission lines running across their land. Regarding the changes that would impact public agencies, Board of Forestry has characterized its intent to largely maintain the status quo and remove controversial changes to “timber operations” and “timberlands”  that would have brought such right-of-way maintenance activities within the definition of “timber operations,” requiring a Notice of Exemption to be prepared by a Registered Professional Forester. 

This workshop will be conducted in-person at the California Natural Resources Agency (715 P Street, Room 305, Sacramento, CA) on May 1, 2024, from noon to 5pm with an option to participate remotely, see here. For questions, please contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy.

 

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.

 

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

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.

 

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

KEEPING UP

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

 

Michael Allen, of Santa Rosa, has been reappointed to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, where he has served since 2013. Allen served as a California State Assemblymember from 2010 to 2012. He was District Director in the Office of State Senator Patricia Wiggins from 2006 to 2010. Allen was Executive Director of the Service Employees International Union Local 707 from 1984 to 2004, where he was a Staff Attorney from 1979 to 1984. He was a Psychiatric Registered Nurse for the County of Sonoma Mental Health Department from 1976 to 1979. Allen is a member of the Sierra Club of California, the American Civil Liberties Union, and is Chair of the Board of Directors of Sonoma County Conservation Action. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Empire College School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $181,156. Allen is a Democrat.

Heather Bernikoff, of Catheys Valley, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors. She has been Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat Program Manager and Tribal Liaison at the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts since 2024. Bernikoff has been an independent Consultant since 2017. She was Program Director at The Special Hope Foundation from 2014 to 2017 and was Program Officer and Program Director at the California Consumer Protection Foundation from 2002 to 2014. Bernikoff was Program Manager at the California Telehealth and Telemedicine Center from 2000 to 2002 and Senior Health Educator and Program Manager at Contra Costa Health Plan from 1997 to 2000. Bernikoff earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Humboldt and a Master of Science degree in Health Education from the University of Wyoming. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bernikoff is a Democrat.

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.

 

County leaders look for funds to pay for services – Ag Alert

Staci Heaton, a Senior Policy Advocate for the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), voices concerns about the impact of state budget deficits on essential services like fire departments in counties.

 

First big-rig hydrogen fuel station in the U.S. opens in California – POLITICO

The first commercial hydrogen fuel station for big-rig trucks in the U.S. is up and running at the Port of Oakland, a baby step toward what hydrogen proponents see as a clean new future for long-haul trucking.

 

California increases water allocation after wet winter – Los Angeles Times

With runoff from this year’s snow and rain boosting the levels of California’s reservoirs, state water managers on Tuesday announced plans to increase deliveries of supplies from the State Water Project to 40% of full allotments, up from 30% last month.

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: Senate Rules   Status: 4/25/2024-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   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 Appropriations   Status: 4/18/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 water 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 Appropriations   Status: 4/25/2024-Read second time and amended.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2104   (Soria)   Community colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/17/2024-Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Appropriations   Status: 4/23/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2302   (Addis)   Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.     Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 4/15/2024-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   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 Appropriations   Status: 4/25/2024-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Consent Calendar   Status: 4/25/2024-Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.   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 Agriculture   Status: 4/24/2024-VOTE: Do pass as amended. (PASS)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2746   (Villapudua)   Streamlined housing approvals: multifamily housing developments: agricultural employee housing.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 4/15/2024-Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.    Staff:  John (1)

AB 2787   (Patterson, Joe)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.     Location: Senate Rules   Status: 4/25/2024-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   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.   AB 3150 would allow for members of the public to petition the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to review the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for potential reclassifications based on new data, and would shift certain responsibilities regarding the maps from the Board of Forestry to the OSFM.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/23/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 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 Appropriations   Status: 4/22/2024-Set for hearing April 29.   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: complete streets facilities: transit priority projects.   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 Appropriations   Status: 4/24/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Appropriations   Status: 4/24/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 4.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Appropriations   Status: 4/25/2024-From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (April 24).   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: Assembly Desk   Status: 4/25/2024-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   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 Appropriations   Status: 4/25/2024-From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (April 24).   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1064   (Laird)   Cannabis: operator and separate premises license types: excessive concentration of licenses.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/22/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1066   (Blakespear)   Hazardous waste: marine flares: producer responsibility.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/23/2024-Set for hearing April 29.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1116   (Portantino)   Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/24/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (April 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1143   (Allen)   Household hazardous waste: producer responsibility.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/23/2024-Set for hearing April 29.   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 Appropriations   Status: 4/22/2024-Set for hearing April 29.   Position:   No Position   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1159   (Dodd)   California Environmental Quality Act: roadside wildfire risk reduction projects.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/24/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Third Reading   Status: 4/23/2024-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1269   (Padilla)   Safety net hospitals.     Location: Senate Health   Status: 4/15/2024-April 24 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1280   (Laird)   Waste management: propane cylinders: reusable or refillable.     Location: Senate Third Reading   Status: 4/23/2024-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)