On June 18, 2025, the Senate approved the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization (SRS) Act (S. 356). This bipartisan measure, reintroduced earlier this year by Senators Crapo (R-ID), Wyden (D-OR), Risch (R-ID), and Merkley (D-OR), would reauthorize the Secure Rural...
CDI Approves First California Forward-Looking Wildfire Risk Model
On Thursday, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) announced that they have completed their review of the first forward-looking wildfire risk model for use by insurers in setting rates for property insurance. The Verisk Wildfire Model underwent a six-month...
RCRC Ad Hoc Advisory Committees Ramp Up in 2025
RCRC Ad Hoc Advisory Committees play an important role in the periodic review and consideration of issues impacting our rural counties. This year, RCRC currently has three active Ad Hoc Advisory Committees, with a proposal for a fourth anticipated in the coming...
California Congressional Republicans Urge U.S. DOT to Redirect High-Speed Rail Funds to Highway Projects
On July 22, Congress Member Vince Fong (D-Bakersfield) was joined by 8 other members of California’s Congressional Republican delegation in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, urging that the $4 billion recently recovered from...
U.S. Senator Schiff Urges USDA to Deliver Disaster Relief for Farmers in California
In a letter of July 22, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to ensure the agency delivers disaster assistance from the American Relief Act of 2025 to California farmers. In the letter, the Senator emphasized...
Weekly News Clips – The Barbed Wire – July 25, 2025
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. Convenience operators face underground storage tank deadline – CSP RCRC’s Senior Policy Advocate...
Registration Now Open – RCRC 2025 Annual Meeting September 17-19
Registration is now open for RCRC’s 2025 Annual Meeting! The conference will be held September 17–19, 2025 at the Everline Resort & Spa in Olympic Valley (Placer County). This year’s program will feature experts discussing a wide range of topics from programs for...
Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 547 (Pérez) – Commercial Property Insurance Cancellation and Nonrenewal
RCRC supports Senate Bill 547, authored by Senator Sasha Renee Pérez (D-Alhambra). This measure extends the moratorium on insurance non-renewals for residential properties located in a ZIP Code within or adjacent to the fire perimeter for one year after the...
State Releases Annual 30×30 Progress Report
Earlier this week, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) released its Annual Progress Report to update stakeholders on the status of California’s efforts to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land and water by the year 2030, also known as...
Congress Passes $9B Rescissions Package, Sends to President’s Desk
Early Friday morning, Congress narrowly passed the $9 billion dollar rescissions package with a vote of 216-213 in the House, and 51-48 in the Senate. The package now heads to the President’s desk for signature.  The package rescinds $9 billion in unobligated funds...
Telehealth Permanence Bill Introduced in Congress
On July 11, U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-04), David Schweikert (AZ-01), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Troy Balderson (OH-12) announced the introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral CONNECT for Health Act, which would expand telehealth access for millions of...
Federal Government Revokes $4B for California High Speed Rail Project
On July 16, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the Federal Railroad Administration has terminated approximately $4 billion in unspent federal funding for California’s High Speed Rail project.  At its inception, the project was intended to be...
Keeping Up – The Barbed Wire – July 18, 2025
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Henry Nutt III, of American Canyon, has been reappointed to the Contractors State Licensing Board where he has served since 2024. Nutt has been a Preconstruction Executive...
Weekly News Clips – The Barbed Wire – July 18, 2025
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. Weather Service cuts are harming agriculture, worsening wildfire danger, California senators say – Los...
Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 531 – Geothermal Project Permitting
Assembly Bill 531, authored by Assembly Member Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa), seeks to usurp local land use authority for smaller geothermal energy projects under 50MW by allowing developers to bypass local governments and seek approval through the California Energy...
Federal Update: Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization, Farm Bill, Closing the Intoxicating Hemp Loophole
When the One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1) was signed into law on July 4th, several RCRC priorities were left on the cutting floor. RCRC continues to push for the following federal priorities: Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Although Secure Rural Schools (SRS)...
Trump Administration Advances NEPA Reform Across Federal Agencies
As part of a coordinated push to streamline environmental permitting, the Departments of the Interior, Energy, and Agriculture each issued revised National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. These reforms—driven by President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy...
Weekly News Clips – The Barbed Wire – July 11, 2025
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 thins its forests, then burns the wood. Is there a better way? – Sacramento Bee In...
RCRC Highlights the Latest Updates in the 2025-2026 State Budget Package
On Monday, June 30, Governor Newsom signed the package of bills that make up the 2025 State Budget, which took effect immediately upon signature. A number of details remain to be worked out through subsequent legislative action throughout the summer. While the 2025-26...
RCRC Launches Ninth Annual Rural County Photo Contest
2024 Photo Contest Winner – Lisa Wilhelmi Perkins RCRC’s 9th Annual Rural County Photo Contest launched on July 1, 2025.  The contest invites individuals to share captivating images that showcase the incredible diversity, breathtaking scenery, vibrant activities, rich...
Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 769 – The Golden State Infrastructure Corporation Act
Senate Bill 769, authored by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced), seeks to establish the Golden State Infrastructure Corporation within the State Treasurer’s Office to offer flexible financing solutions for infrastructure projects throughout California. Specifically,...
Legislature Passes New CEQA Bill, Includes Several New Exemptions
On June 30, the Legislature passed and Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 131, which is a budget trailer bill that makes numerous changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Responding to widespread criticism about CEQA misuse and delays, Senator Scott...
U.S. Senate Advances GOP Reconciliation Bill with Increased Rural Hospital Stabilization Fund
After an overnight vote-a-rama, the U.S. Senate narrowly advanced the budget reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, with Vice President JD Vance breaking a 50–50 tie early Tuesday morning. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) were the only...
Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Update
As reconciliation legislation moves toward final passage, attention is beginning to shift to other bipartisan priorities—including the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) reauthorization. On June 18, the Senate unanimously approved the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act...
RCRC Affiliate Updates – June 2025
A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC’s affiliate entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities. GSNR to Revise DEIR to Reflect a Reduced-Scale Forest Resiliency Project In accordance with the California...
Weekly News Clips – The Barbed Wire – July 3, 2025
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. Governor Newsom Signs Broadest CEQA Reform Ever To Boost Affordability & Cut Red Tape – Senator...
Keeping Up – The Barbed Wire – July 3, 2025
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Henry Nutt III, of American Canyon, has been reappointed to the Contractors State Licensing Board where he has served since 2024. Nutt has been a Preconstruction Executive...
U.S. Senate Version of Budget Bill Proposes Federal Land Sales Across California
Earlier this week, maps began to surface that showed at least 2 million acres of potential USDA Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands that could be liquidated as part of the Senate version of the “Big, Beautiful Budget Bill.” It...
Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 28 (Schiavo) – Solid Waste Landfills: Subsurface Temperatures
Assembly Bill 28, authored by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Santa Clarita), seeks to create a temperature monitoring and reporting regime for landfills.  Specifically, AB 28 would require landfill operators to continuously monitor and notify the community of...
U.S. Senate Reconciliation Proposal Caps Provider Taxes, Threatening Rural Hospital Finances
On June 14, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee released the text and section-by-section summary of its reconciliation proposal. The proposal includes Medicaid cuts that are significantly deeper than those in the House-passed version (H.R. 1). Of great potential impact...
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

