RCRC is pleased to announce the winner of our 10th Annual Rural County Photo Contest. First place was awarded to Ashley Fox for her stunning photograph of the historic Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse overlooking the rugged Humboldt County coastline. The dramatic image...
RCRC has joined with public agency partners to oppose Senate Bill 951 by Senator Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-San Bernardino), unless amended to remove public agencies. This bill would require notice for workforce displacement or termination due to the adoption of certain...
Senate Bill 922, authored by Senator John Laird (D-Monterey), which would reaffirm long-standing local authority related to the recovery of street maintenance and repair costs associated with providing essential public services, has advanced to Governor Newsom’s desk....
RCRC reached a major milestone last week as the California Commission on State Mandates unanimously approved a test claim seeking state reimbursement for costs associated with California’s Race-Blind Charging requirements. The claim was prepared on behalf of...
On Thursday, August 19, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection approved the final draft of Zone 0 defensible space regulations, which was directed by legislation including Assembly Bill 3074 (2020), Senate Bill 504 (2024), Assembly Bill 1455 (2025), and...
On Thursday, August 20, Governor Newsom announced that 13 California communities, which have earned the state’s Prohousing Designation, will receive $11.3 million in new state funding to create new affordable housing. The funding was awarded through the fourth round...
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) will host its quarterly Board field tour and meeting in June Lake in Mono County on Wednesday, September 2, and Thursday, September 3. SNC is a California state agency focused on improving the environmental, economic, and social...
On Tuesday, August 18, the U.S. Forest Service filed a proposed rule to rescind, in its entirety, the national 2001 Roadless Area Conversation Rule, citing that the one-size-fits-all restriction has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to wildfire risk...
On August 19, Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla and Representative Raul Ruiz sent a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers opposing a proposal to deauthorize environmental infrastructure projects for the New River and Imperial County, which carry $20 million in...
California is where MEDIKO’s story began. It is where founder, owner, and CEO Dr. Kaveh Ofogh became a licensed California physician and developed the values that would later shape the company. For the past 30 years, MEDIKO Correctional Healthcare...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Lisa Weiler, of Lakeport, has been appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council. Weiler has been Executive Director at Scotts Valley Treatment Center since 2022. She has...
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. Commentary: Before another wildlife disaster, we must act together – Capital Press Klamath Basin county...
In simultaneous hearings on August 13, the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees acted on approximately 700 bills on their respective suspense files. Measures with cost impacts over the committee-designated Suspense File threshold faced two possible outcomes:...
On August 13, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted a Decision establishing a standardized customer reliability reporting framework for the state’s three large investor-owned utilities (IOUs): PG&E, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas...
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) has published the Notice of Proposed Action to amend sections 650, 672, 672.1, and 672.2 to Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR). Amendments include management measures for watercraft removed from...
On Wednesday, August 12, Governor Newsom and First Partner Siebel Newsom announced the Free Fourth Grade Pass, offering unlimited access to 54 participating state parks. Passes can be downloaded through ReserveCalifornia. State Parks is updating its free pass...
On August 7, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act (H.R. 5366), sending the bipartisan legislation to the President’s desk. Introduced by Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rick Scott (R-FL), with companion...
On August 7, the U.S. Senate confirmed Glen R. Smith as USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development by a vote of 51–47. As Under Secretary, Smith will oversee the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Business-Cooperative Service. A fifth-generation...
SitelogIQ is proud to be your Premier Rural County Partner –building Sustainable Community Infrastructure! SitelogIQ is proud to be a U.S. Owned & Operated, top-tier National ESCO providing energy efficiency, community microgrid, EV charging, and facility...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Grecia Staton, of West Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the Department of Industrial Relations. Staton has been Deputy Director of Disability...
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. The right to additional legal counsel requires state funding – Sacramento Bee In this Op-Ed, RCRC...
The State Controller’s Office (SCO) has circulated the draft claiming instructions for two newly adopted test claims for reimbursable state-mandated programs. Local agencies follow the SCO’s claiming instructions to file claims for reimbursement with the SCO. The...
RCRC supported Assembly Bill 35, authored by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego), which was signed into law by Governor Newsom on July 16th. This measure will exempt Proposition 4 (Climate Bond) funding from the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), enabling...
A letter, issued on August 4, 2026, by the Department of Finance shared that $34 million dollars has been allocated to counties to expedite the vote counting process and to provide voter outreach and education for the November 3, 2026, statewide general election. Of...
On August 6, the Senate Agriculture Committee marked up the Agricultural Act of 2026, but a motion to report the bill failed 10- 11. Rather than adjourn the meeting, Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) recessed the Committee, subject to the call of the Chair, preserving...
Updated August 13, 2026 The Senate’s stopgap funding bill (H.R. 6500), which would fund federal agencies through December 11, would also provide a temporary reprieve from the upcoming prohibition on most hemp-derived THC products. The ban was enacted late last year...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Natalie Arroyo, of Eureka, has been reappointed to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation Board of Directors, where she has served since 2019. Arroyo has been a Supervisor...
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. California Asks Court to Toss AT&T’s Copper Retirement Suit – Broadband Breakfast California...
RCRC, in coalition with the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the League of California Cities (CalCities), supported Senate Bill 935 authored by Senator Steven Choi (R-Irvine), which was signed into law by Governor Newsom on July 16th. This measure...
This week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) stated that he expects to mark up the Senate Farm Bill by August 6, in an effort to advance it before the August recess. However, the timing remains uncertain. Senator Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY)...
Sarah Dukett
Senior Policy Advocate
Leigh Kammerich
Senior Policy Advocate
John Kennedy
Senior Policy Advocate
Staci Heaton
Senior Policy Advocate
Tracy Rhine
Senior Policy Advocate
Eric Will
Policy Advocate
Mary-Ann Warmerdam
Senior Vice President Governmental Affairs