On January 9, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that Worthington Enterprises was seeking a determination as to whether a new California law prohibiting the sale of small single-use...
On January 2, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a key decision holding that federal constitutional protections for interstate commerce (the so-called “dormant commerce clause”) do not apply to commercial cannabis activities, which are illegal under federal...
On January 12, the Department of the Interior announced it is taking the next step to establish the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Currently, wildland fire management responsibilities within the Department of the Interior (DOI) are distributed across multiple bureaus...
On January 15, the White House released a fact sheet outlining an affordability framework, dubbed the “Great Healthcare Plan”, which aims to lower prescription drug prices and insurance premiums without extending the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expired tax credits....
A memorial for Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) is scheduled to occur on Saturday, January 24 at Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico. The service is expected to start at noon, doors open at 10:00 a.m., and parking is available starting at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Sara Nelson, of Roseville, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Administrative Services at the California Health and Human Services Agency. Nelson has been Chief of the...
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. What Congressman LaMalfa’s death means for House Republicans, rural California – Capital Public Radio...
On Friday, January 9th, Governor Newsom released his Administration’s 2026-27 Proposed Budget. This proposal begins the budget development process between the Governor and Legislature, whereby lawmakers must pass a budget by June 15th for the July 1st start of the...
RCRC supports Senate Bill 299, authored by Senator Christopher Cabaldon (D-Yolo). On January 5, Senator Cabaldon amended Senate Bill 299 to exempt residential day care centers from the California Environmental Quality Act. CEQA is intended to improve decision-making...
On Thursday, January 8th, Governor Newsom appeared before a joint session of the State Senate and Assembly for the first time since 2020 to deliver his final State of the State address before his time in office concludes next year. The Governor spoke for a little...
On Tuesday, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) announced two webinars to highlight their efforts on the state’s 30×30 conservation policy. The first, scheduled to occur on Friday, January 9, was to train “30×30 Ambassadors” to...
On December 18, the House passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776) in a 221–196 vote, marking the first major permitting reform vote of the Congress and setting up a high-stakes Senate negotiation in 2026. The...
On December 18, the House of Representatives passed the Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845), which would remove the gray wolf from protections under the Endangered Species Act and return wildlife management authority to the states. The measure directs the...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Rafael Acevedo, of Imperial County, has been appointed Warden at Richard J. Donovan State Prison, where he has been Acting Warden since 2024. Acevedo held multiple...
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. Wolf attack in Lassen County kills horse, alarms sheriff – Sacramento Bee After a wolf killed a...
The RCRC family is deeply saddened by the passing of Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Serving California’s 1st District from 2013 to 2026, Congressman LaMalfa was more than a representative; he was a dedicated partner and steadfast advocate for rural counties, ensuring that...
The Barbed Wire will be on hiatus through the end of the year, resuming on Friday, January 9, 2025. Warmest wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year from all of us at...
On December 12, RCRC, CSAC, and the League of Cities jointly responded to a solicitation from California Earthquake Authority seeking stakeholder input on a variety of topics related to the accessibility and affordability of property insurance; potential changes to...
On December 17, California’s U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff announced the reintroduction of a sweeping public lands package. The Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act would protect and restore over 1.7...
On December 16, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Post-Wildfire Environmental Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow the federal government to help pay for hazardous debris cleanup following wildfires, even...
A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC’s affiliate entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities. Golden State Connect Authority Secures $110.9 Million in Bond Financing for Rural Broadband Expansion As of December...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Laura Capps, of Santa Barbara, has been appointed to the Board of State and Community Corrections. Capps has served on the Board of Supervisors at the County of Santa...
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. What They’re Saying: LaMalfa Legislation to Protect Rural Areas from Fires Passes House – Congressman...
Join RCRC on December 15th for an exclusive webinar for county employees, providing “need to know” details about recent Brown Act changes within SB 707 (Durazo). Hosted by RCRC in partnership with the California State Association of Counties, Urban...
On Monday, December 8th, Governor Newsom announced CalHOME and Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing grant funding awards, administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The awards will create 74 CalHOME projects in 22 California...
On December 9, the House of Representatives passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.356) after a multi-year effort to gain Congressional approval. This measure reauthorizes Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments to rural counties in California and...
On December 5, Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced the Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Extension Act, to permanently ensure wildfire survivors are not taxed on compensation they...
Coming in 2026, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), and Self-Help Enterprises will be hosting convenings focused on investing in rural infrastructure throughout rural California. These events will bring together...
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. Unleashing Water Resources in California’s Central Valley – The House Committee on Natural Resources The...
On December 3, 2025, a group of 89 Congressmembers sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to House Leadership urging swift consideration of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 (SRS). RCRC-member counties and other rural counties across the nation...
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