As the 2026-27 Legislative Session came to a close, the Legislature acted upon the remaining budget trailer bills, concluding negotiations that took place throughout the summer. RCRC has compiled key highlights of the final budget action, by topic area, of interest to...
On September 1, 2026, the California State Senate and Assembly adjourned and will take no more action for the 2025-26 Regular Session. Unless legislation signed into law contained an urgency clause, or specifies a different day, all bills will take effect on January...
In the closing days of the 2026 legislative session, the Legislature advanced two measures to the Governor attempted to deal with the widespread illicit use of nitrous oxide as a recreational inhalant. Senate Bill 936 (Blakespear) bans all sales of flavored NOX and...
Assembly Bill 2667 (Hadwick) awaits consideration by the Governor after passing the Legislature. The bill would ban vapes that are disguised to look like common school supplies and vapes containing video display devices. The bill also makes several changes to...
Senate Bill 1370 (Stern) seeks to streamline the state permitting process for wildfire risk reduction projects undertaken by the state, local governments, and utilities. The bill seeks to codify a recently expired Executive Order (N-38-25), which...
Congress passed a continuing resolution on September 1, 2026, funding the federal government through December 11. Along with that, they are delaying the implementation of restrictions on hemp-derived THC products that had been scheduled to take effect November 12. The...
House Agriculture Committee Chair, G.T. Thompson (R-PA), is seeking a waiver from House GOP leadership to continue serving as the panel’s top Republican next year, despite being term-limited under conference rules that cap members at three terms leading a...
As California’s largest public agency broker and consultant, Alliant delivers unmatched expertise in: Property & Casualty Employee Benefits Public Works Construction Retirement Consulting Human Capital Consulting Watch this brief video to learn more, and be sure...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Catherine Purcell, of Solano County, has been reappointed to the Board of Parole Hearings, where she has served since 2021. Purcell held multiple positions at the State...
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 lawmakers move to remake state forests centered on logging – Los Angeles Times RCRC Senior...
RCRC has joined with public agency partners to oppose Assembly Bill 1383, authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Los Angeles). This measure would make several significant changes to public employees’ retirement benefits, ultimately leading to increased pension...
RCRC is asking Governor Gavin Newsom to veto legislation that would profoundly impact the management of California’s Demonstration State Forest (DSF) system. The bill, which recently passed the Legislature, conflicts with state forest resilience goals outlined...
On August 27, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 922 (Laird) into law. RCRC, in coalition with public agency partners, supported the measure, which reaffirms long-standing local authority related to the recovery of street maintenance and repair costs associated with...
On Wednesday, August 26, Governor Newsom announced the latest round of grant awards from the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative at a press conference in the RCRC-member county of Solano. The awards are expected to support the creation of 20,000...
On Friday, August 28, Governor Newsom announced $2.7 billion in funding for more than 150 new transportation projects, intended to improve travel times, expand travel options beyond driving, and strengthen the state’s transportation infrastructure assets against...
On Friday, August 28, Governor Newsom announced $44 million for 15 projects across California to support tribal stewardship, desert protection, habitat recovery, and water quality. In the announcement, the Governor touts the spending as an action taken in partnership...
Last week, Congressman Adam Gray and Congressional Delegation Chair Zoe Lofgren led the full California Democratic Congressional Delegation, along with Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, in a letter sent to Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy...
Last week, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Congressman Don Beyer (VA-8) introduced the National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act. This bipartisan measure would create a coordinated federal program, modeled on the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction...
From a small cable system in Tupelo, Mississippi to a global leader in connectivity and storytelling, Comcast’s journey is driven by innovation, investment, and impact. For more than 60 years, we’ve brought people together through technology, entertainment, and...
A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC’s affiliate entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities. Rural Counties ESJPA Explores EPR Compliance Pathways At the August 20, 2026 Rural Counties Environmental Services...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Lindsey Berg-James, of Monterey County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Monterey County Superior Court. Berg-James has worked as a Shareholder at Noland,...
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’s wildfire future depends on what legislators do next – Capitol Weekly In a new Capitol Weekly...
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...
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