The Barbed Wire - June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023
RCRC Launches Seventh Annual Rural County Photo Contest
Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 504 (Reyes) - State and Local Public Employees: Labor Relations: Disputes
Programs in RCRC Member Counites Awarded Grants to Support Farmworker Homeownership
Congress Advances Debt-Limit Bill to President’s Desk
Department of the Interior Announces $161 Million for Landscape Restoration
FCC Publishes Second Version of National Broadband Map
Strategic Growth Council Announces Round 1 of Community Resilience Centers Grant Program
RCRC Affiliate GSFA Releases Revised Notice of Preparation for GSNR Forest Resiliency Project
BULLETIN BOARD
IN THE NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

RCRC Launches Seventh Annual Rural County Photo Contest

RCRC has launched the 7th Annual Rural County Photo Contest.  The contest invites individuals to submit their photographs capturing life in rural California and showcasing the beautiful scenery, activities, communities, history, and charm of RCRC’s 40 member counties. 

The first prize winner will receive a $300 gift card, the winning photograph will be featured during the September RCRC Board of Directors Meeting and in related print, online, and social media presentations. 

Photo entries (limit 3) should be sent to photocontest@rcrcnet.org and must include: 

  • Location where the photo was taken, including the county in which it was taken; and 
  • Photographer’s full name and email address. 

All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on June 30th.Visit www.rcrcnet.org/photo-contest for details & official contest rules. View RCRC’s press release here

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 504 (Reyes) - State and Local Public Employees: Labor Relations: Disputes

RCRC, in coalition with local government partners, strongly opposes Assembly Bill 504, authored by Assembly Member Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton). This measure would declare, as a human right, the acts of sympathy striking and honoring a picket line. AB 504 would also void provisions in public employer policies or collective bargaining agreements that limit or prevent an employee's right to sympathy strike. 

Under current law, essential employees of a local public agency as defined by the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) law cannot engage in a primary or sympathy strike. Specifically, AB 504 would: 

  • Override the essential employee process at PERB, thereby creating a system where any employee can sympathy strike, which could result in workforce shortages that jeopardize the ability to provide critical health and safety functions, including disaster response, emergency services, dispatch, mobile crisis response, health care, law enforcement, corrections, elections, road maintenance, and other essential services.  

  • Void provisions of Local Memoranda of Understanding around striking and sympathy striking that ensures local governments can continue to provide critical services. 

  • Allow employees who have not gone through the negotiation process to refuse to work, simply because another bargaining unit is engaged in a strike.  

RCRC and partners continue to advocate that shutting down government operations for sympathy strikes is an extreme approach that goes well beyond what is allowed for primary strikes and puts the public’s health and safety at risk. AB 504 jeopardizes the delivery of services and undermines the collective bargaining process. 

AB 504 passed off the Assembly Floor on May 31st and is awaiting a hearing date in the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement. We encourage counties to consider opposition to AB 504 because it jeopardizes a county’s ability to provide critical health and safety functions.  

The coalition's opposition letter is available here. For more information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Sarah Dukett

Programs in RCRC Member Counites Awarded Grants to Support Farmworker Homeownership

On June 1st, Governor Newsom announced the awarding of $16 million in grants to increase homeownership for farmworkers in California. The grants will support five programs statewide to build or purchase homes for lower-income farmworkers and advance programs that help farmworkers become or remain homeowners through mortgage assistance. 

Three of the five awards are for programs in RCRC member counties:  

  • Santa Maria - People’s Self-Help Housing: $4,004,000 

People’s Self-Help Housing will use the funds for a homeownership development project and technical assistance for self-help housing. The development project will have 49 total homes with 40 of those being affordable for people at 40-80% AMI; of these, 16 homes will be reserved for farmworker families. The community will be built in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County. 

  • Watsonville - Habitat For Humanity Monterey Bay: $1,202,500 

Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay will assist five units with funding under the First-time Homebuyer Mortgage Assistance Program and Technical Assistance for Self-Help Housing Grant. The current project, located in Watsonville, will support families at or below 70% AMI. 

  • Merced, Madera, Kern - Self-Help Enterprises: $999,370 

Self-Help Enterprises will work with families in Kern, Madera, and Merced counties to provide first-time homebuyer mortgage assistance. The program will assist 10 low-income, and/or very low-income, farmworker families at or below 80% AMI. Funds to individual homeowners will be in the form of loans. 

The full announcement is available on the Governor’s Office Website here

Congress Advances Debt-Limit Bill to President’s Desk

This week, Congress passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act, also known as the “Debt-Limit Bill”, which will prevent the United States from defaulting on its bills. With broad bipartisan support, the bill passed by a wide vote margin (314-117) in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The measure then passed in the Senate by a 63.36 vote on Thursday night. President Biden is expected to sign the bill as early as today, and will deliver remarks Friday evening at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern this evening. 

When signed, the bill will suspend the debt limit until January 1, 2025, and impose spending caps for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. It will also enact new requirements on food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and rescind some unobligated COVID-relief funding. The bill will claw back $27.1 billion in unspent COVID-related funds, namely from the public health emergency fund and highway pots of money the government had not yet obligated for specific projects. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the agreement to limit government spending in exchange for raising the borrowing limit would reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion over ten years. 

The largest funds being clawed back include:  

  • Agriculture Department: Over $3 billion, in part aimed at strengthening the food system and funding marketing services; 

  • Corporation for National Community Service: $286 million for operating expenses; 

  • Education Department: $391 million from the Education Stabilization Fund to support states and schools through the pandemic; 

  • Health and Human Services: Over $13 billion across the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and other response agencies for vaccine distribution, research and pharmaceutical supply chain recovery;  

  • Labor Department: $1 billion from state grants aimed at addressing fraud and identity theft; 

  • Small Business Administration: $2 billion in disaster relief and COVID-19 response; 

  • Transportation Department: $3.9 billion from highway infrastructure programs and the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program, which provided money to businesses to prevent furloughs and layoffs;  

  • Treasury Department: Over $1 billion across several programs, including air carrier support and grants for small businesses. 

A full breakdown of recissions, including the agency, account, program, and estimated rescission amount is available here.

Department of the Interior Announces $161 Million for Landscape Restoration

On May 31st, the Department of the Interior announced plans to infuse $161 million into ecosystem restoration and resilience on the nation’s public lands, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This work, led by the Bureau of Land Management, will focus on 21 “Restoration Landscapes” across 11 western states, including the Consumnes Watershed in California. Projects range from restoring wildlife habitat in the sagebrush steppe of the high desert; to re-creating wetland meadows; to repairing watersheds on former industrial timberlands. The work will be collaborative and partnership-driven, supporting coordinated investments from across the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), including the fuels management, range, wildlife, forestry, aquatics and recreation programs. The BLM’s Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring Strategy will be used to monitor outcomes and ensure restoration efforts are successful and durable. The press release, and a full list of the Restoration Landscapes, is available here.

FCC Publishes Second Version of National Broadband Map

On May 30th, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published the second version of the National Broadband Map, which provides information about the internet services available to individual locations across the country, along with new maps of mobile coverage, as reported by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the FCC’s ongoing Broadband Data Collection. Consumers, state, local and Tribal government entities, and other stakeholders can help verify the accuracy of the data shown on the map by filing challenges. An accurate map helps identify the unserved and underserved communities most in need of funding for high-speed internet infrastructure investments. 

Strategic Growth Council Announces Round 1 of Community Resilience Centers Grant Program

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) has announced the availability of funding for Round 1 of the Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program through this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). SGC anticipates that approximately $5 million in Planning Grant funding, approximately $9.6 million in Project Development Grant funding, and approximately $84 million in Implementation Grant funding will be available for competitive awards in Round 1.  

To demonstrate interest in applying for a CRC Planning Grant, Project Development Grant, or Implementation Grant, all prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an Intent to Apply Survey as early as possible. This form closes at 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Applicants intending to apply for a CRC Planning Grant or Project Development Grant may request application technical assistance (TA) through the CRC Application TA Request Form by no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Friday, June 16, 2023

To be considered for a CRC Implementation Grant award, interested applicants must complete an Implementation Grant Pre-Proposal, which includes a request for application technical assistance. Implementation Grant Pre-Proposals must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Friday, June 16, 2023

Full CRC Planning, Project Development, and Implementation Grant Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, according to the terms of this NOFA.  

The NOFA may be found here.  For more information or questions, please contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will

RCRC Affiliate GSFA Releases Revised Notice of Preparation for GSNR Forest Resiliency Project

On June 1st, RCRC affiliate Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA), acting as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lead agency, reissued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) Forest Resiliency Project. The proposed project aims to improve the resiliency of California’s forestlands by sustainably procuring and processing excess biomass into a pelletized fuel source for use in renewable energy generation overseas. Specifically, the proposed project would include the development of two processing facilities, one in the foothills of the Central Sierra Nevada Mountain range, in Tuolumne County, and one in the Modoc Plateau of Northern California, in Lassen County.  

GSFA previously released a NOP on November 18, 2022, to initiate the environmental scoping process in accordance with the CEQA Guidelines. This reissued NOP provides minor changes to the project description and has initiated a 30-day public review and comment period from June 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023. The revised NOP reflects the selection of the Port of Stockton for the project’s shipping needs, provides additional detail regarding feedstock storage sites, design layout, and includes related minor changes. 

A virtual public scoping meeting for the revised NOP will be held on June 20, 2023, to accept comments regarding the potential impacts of the project.  These comments will inform development of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which will occur over the next several months. The revised NOP is available here and additional information regarding the current status of the project, along with registration for the June 20th meeting, will be made available on the GSNR webpage 

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

CPUC To Host Upcoming Informational Webinar on Funding Opportunities for Broadband Projects

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will host an informational webinar on Wednesday, June 28th from 10am to noon explaining how California is closing the state’s digital divide through federal and state funding opportunities for local agencies and community-based organizations. Additionally, the CPUC will provide an explainer on the Broadband, Equity, and Access Deployment (BEAD) program, last mile Federal Funding Account, California Advanced Services Fund (CASF), broadband maps, and Digital Equity Plan program.

To register, see here.

 

Upcoming California Coastal Information Exchange and Project Proposal Fairs

California Coastal Information Exchange and Project Proposal Fairs, hosted by the State and Federal Partners for Coastal Resilience in California, aim to increase awareness about state and federal programs designed to assist coastal counties to recover from this year’s winter storms and build resilience to future climate-related impacts.  The goal is to provide immediate project support and help coastal counties address needs. If your organization is in the process of forming a project idea, you are encouraged to attend and start a conversation that can help you meet your goals, and to connect and learn from your peers in other communities. 

Leaders who are focused on improving the resilience of California communities in the face of frequent and severe natural disasters, are invited to present information about your community’s needs and projects and receive immediate feedback from state and federal agencies. If your community or organization has a project under development, whether in the early stages or shovel ready, you will have the opportunity to make a 10-minute presentation to a host of federal and state agencies. If your community or organization is not quite there yet, information tables will offer free resources and tools to support locally led resilience planning and implementation. 

California Coastal Information Exchange and Project Proposal Fairs

  • Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – University of Southern California, Los Angeles - 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Thursday, June 15, 2023 – Bay Model Visitor Center, Sausalito - 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

To schedule a 10-minute time slot to present your organization’s recovery and resilience projects at one of these events, please take a moment to complete the event registration form here, including a short (optional) questionnaire on which you can provide a brief overview of your organization’s project or projects.

 

Department of Technology Releases Two Surveys to Help Inform California's Plans and Close the Digital Divide - Take them today!

  • Public Survey on Internet Use and Adoption: Digital Equity Survey - 10 to 15 minutes

The California Department of Technology has released their public survey on internet use and adoption. Feedback collected will inform California’s State Digital Equity Plan and help California design solutions to ensure that all California residents have access to high quality and affordable internet service, devices, skills training, and digital support. The survey is available in 14 languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Armenian, Persian/Farsi, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Punjabi, and Khmer.

Click here to take the California Digital Equity Online Survey: bit.ly/CADigitalEquitySurvey
 

  • Survey to Identify Programs and Services Needed in Your Community:  Digital Equity Ecosystem Map (DEEM) survey

The California Department of Technology is developing the state's Digital Equity Plan, which when completed will help inform how the state funds programs to get Californians the access and training they need.

Your feedback is needed to help close the digital divide in your community. Your participation will help uncover:

  • What programs and services are being offered;
  • Where these programs and services are being offered, and
  • To whom these programs and services are being offered.

Your organization will also be added to an inventory of entities committed to supporting digital equity initiatives across the State.

Who should take part?
ALL government agencies, nonprofits, experts, practitioners, funders, researchers and community organizers. If your work helps people in your community access the internet, computers or digital skills training, or other information and resources, you should take part in this survey. If you have programs that support covered populations that could also support digital equity, you should complete this survey.

Learn more and take the Digital Equity Ecosystem Map (DEEM) survey here.

 

Department of Conservation Monthly Discussions on Williamson Act Key Topics

Join Department of Conservation staff for a monthly discussion on key topics under the Williamson Act. County staff and members of the public are invited to these hour-long, virtual sessions where staff from DOC’s Division of Land Resource Protection (DLRP) discuss select topics, provide technical assistance, and invite questions on Williamson Act implementation.

Upcoming sessions in 2023 include:

  • June 15th – CEQA & Williamson Act, and Farmland Mitigation
  • August 17th – Public Acquisitions
  • September 21st – Solar Use & WA Contracts
  • October 19th – WA Enrollment Finder
  • November 16th – Open Question Hour

For questions, contact LCA@conservation.ca.gov. For more information, please visit www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/wa.

 

Bureau of Land Management Meeting Dates for Proposed Public Lands Rule

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a schedule for five public meetings that will provide forums across the country for the public to learn more about the proposed Public Lands Rule and have questions answered.

The proposed Public Lands Rule, which was announced in late March, would provide tools for the BLM to protect healthy public lands in the face of increasing drought, wildfire and climate impacts; conserve important wildlife habitat and intact landscapes; better use science and data in decision-making; plan for thoughtful development; and better recognize unique cultural and natural resources on public lands.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to ask questions that facilitate a deeper understanding of the proposal. The dates and cities of upcoming meetings are:

 

Career Opportunities

Yolo County

The County of Yolo, County Administrators Office is recruiting to fill 2 full-time positions, scheduled to close Monday, June 12, 2023:

  • Associate Management Analyst. Annual salary range: $67,724.80 - $82,305.60. For full details and to apply, click here.
  • Senior Management Analyst. Annual salary range: $94,619.20 - $115,003.20. For full details and to apply, click here.

 

NRCS California Allocates $2 Million to Assist Farmers Recover from Floods

Beginning April 26, 2023, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is setting aside $2 million in federal financial assistance to help California’s agricultural producers recover from recent flooding. This funding is in addition to recent USDA funding allocated through the USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program (administered by NRCS) and the USDA Emergency Conservation Program (administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency).  The deadline to apply is June 16, 2023. For more information, see here.

 

USDA Grants Available to Help Rural California Repair Their Homes Damaged By Floods and Fires in 2022

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announces the availability of grants to help people repair their homes that were damaged by severe weather or natural disasters in 2022, including the California Mosquito, Oak, Coastal, Fairview, and Mill fires as well as severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

People living in identified counties in California may be eligible for the funding. The homes must be located in presidentially declared disaster areas.

The grants will be available through supplemental disaster funding under the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program. Through this program, people may apply to receive grants of up to $40,675 directly from USDA to repair their homes.

Funds will be available until expended. They may be used to:

  • Pay for home repair expenses that were a result of a presidentially declared disaster in calendar year 2022.
  • Prepare a site for a manufactured home.
  • Relocate a manufactured home.

To be eligible:

  • Applicants must have household incomes that do not exceed the low-limits based on their household size and county.
  • Homes must be located in an eligible rural area.
  • Homes must be located in a presidentially declared disaster areas 2022.

Residents in the following counties may be eligible for the funding: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo

For more information on how to apply, visit the USDA website here.

 

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

IN THE NEWS

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.

 

Federal Court Sides with Counties, Cities, and Forestry Groups, Ruling USFS May Continue Use of Aerial Fire Retardants to Fight Wildfires, California Farm Bureau Reports – Sierra Sun Times

In a significant victory for wildfire management, last Friday the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana ruled that the U.S. Forest Service may continue using aerial fire retardants while pursuing a Clean Water Act (CWA) permit. This ruling came after a broad coalition of communities and landholders affected by wildfires argued in favor of using aerial fire retardants during firefighting activities to safeguard communities.

 

California Announces Nearly $200 Million to Build Resilience Centers to Protect Communities From Extreme Heat, Other Climate Impacts – California Office of the Governor

Last Friday, Governor Newsom announced nearly $200 million is now available to help communities build resilience centers, including at local fairgrounds, that can protect people from extreme heat and other climate-driven extreme weather. Resilience centers are essential to CA’s Climate Adaption Strategy and Extreme Heat Action Plan and provide a central location to distribute resources and facilitate safe, secure shelter during crises. 

 

PG&E reaches $50-million settlement in 2020 Zogg fire – Los Angeles Times

Recently, PG&E reached a significant $50 million legal settlement with Shasta County, addressing its involvement in the devastating 2020 Zogg fire. The agreement aims to prioritize safety and emergency preparedness with $45 million designated for various initiatives, including enhancing firefighter training, establishing a large-animal evacuation center, recruiting arson investigators, and implementing vegetation removal strategies. The settlement will also fund the creation of permanent memorials honoring the four individuals tragically lost in the Zogg fire.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

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.  Amends 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. Requires MPOs to send technical methodologies to CA Air Resources Board for review before project selection and approval can commence. Additionally, the bill requires any project nominated by local or regional transportation agencies for Solutions for Congested Corridors funding to demonstrate how the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with state targets.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 45. Noes 19.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 7   (Friedman)   Transportation: planning: project selection processes.   Requires 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. Also requires State Transportation Agency to submit a report to the legislature on how all funded projects conform to the requirements of this legislation.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 50   (Wood)   Public utilities: timely service: customer energization.   Seeks to establish clear expectations for how quickly utilities are expected to deliver service to new customers and fulfill requests for increased load from existing customers. Invests the CPUC with authority to determine what constitutes the timely provision of electrical service and fulfillment of requests to provide additional capacity. Requires utilities to refine their distribution planning processes to work more collaboratively with local governments and ensure that the projected demand for a given planning cycle more closely matches the actual demand for service. Requires utilities to share information with local governments about where distribution capacity exists or could be easily added to help meet local housing and economic development objectives.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 5/26/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 54   (Aguiar-Curry)   Department of Food and Agriculture: research funding: winegrapes: smoke exposure.   Funds research and creates an advisory committee to mitigate the damage to winegrapes and wine that can occur from exposure to wildfire smoke.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1), Staci (1)

AB 62   (Mathis)   Statewide water storage: expansion.   Establishes 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.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/10/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 66   (Mathis)   Natural Resources Agency: water storage projects: permit approval.   Requires CA Natural Resources 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 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 68   (Ward)   Land use: streamlined housing approvals: density, subdivision, and utility approvals.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 3/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 78   (Ward)   Grand juries.   AB 78 makes changes in Section 890 of the Penal Code, which would increase the per diem rate paid to civil and criminal grand juries from the current statutorily required $15 per day to an amount “equal to seventy percent of the county median daily income.” SB 78 lacks a mechanism to cover the additional cost this bill imposes on counties.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 3/22/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 297   (Fong, Vince)   Wildfires: local assistance grant program: advance payments.     Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 338   (Aguiar-Curry)   Public works: definition.   This measure would change the definition of public works to include fuels reduction projects done under contract, thereby requiring prevailing wage for projects paid for in part or whole by public funds.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 356   (Mathis)   California Environmental Quality Act: aesthetic impacts.   Extends the sunset date of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provision specifying that a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and aesthetic effects are not considered significant effects on the environment if the project involves the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets certain requirements.   Location: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 5/17/2023-Referred to Com. on E.Q.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 422   (Alanis)   Natural Resources Agency: statewide water storage: tracking.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was W.,P. & W. on 2/9/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 429   (Bennett)   Groundwater wells: permits.   If 1% of domestic wells go dry in a critically overdrafted basin, this bill 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 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was W.,P. & W. on 3/2/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 460   (Bauer-Kahan)   State Water Resources Control Board: water rights and usage: interim relief: procedures.   Authorizes 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 Rules   Status: 5/31/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 504   (Reyes)   State and local public employees: labor relations: disputes.   AB 504 would declare the acts of sympathy striking and honoring a picket line a human right. AB 504 would also void provisions in public employer policies or collective bargaining agreements limiting or preventing an employee's right to sympathy strike. AB 504 would grant sympathy strikers greater rights than the employees engaged in a primary strike and override safeguards for essential employees during a sympathy strike to ensure public health and safety services continue.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 557   (Hart)   Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.   Absent any legislative intervention, the processes established by AB 361 to provide remote meeting flexibility to local agencies in emergency circumstances will expire at the end of this year. To remain best-equipped to address future emergencies and allow local agencies to effectively react and respond, AB 557 would eliminate the sunset on the emergency remote meeting procedures added to California Government Code section 54953. Additionally, AB 557 would adjust the timeframe for the resolutions passed to renew an agency’s temporary transition to emergency remote meetings to 45 days, up from the previous number of 30 days.   Location: Senate Gov. & F.   Status: 5/24/2023-Referred to Coms. on GOV. & F. and JUD.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 606   (Mathis)   California Endangered Species Act: accidental take: farms or ranches.     Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 5/10/2023-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 625   (Aguiar-Curry)   Forest biomass: management: emissions: energy.   Establishes the Forest Waste Biomass Utilization Program to be administered by the state board’s Joint Institute for Wood Products Innovation to develop an implementation plan to meet the goals and recommendations of the state’s wood utilization policies and priorities, and to develop a workforce training program to complement the workforce needs associated with the implementation plan. Requires annual reports on implementing the plan. Requires the Energy Commission to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature evaluating innovative bioenergy technologies that use forest biomass waste. Requires the Energy Commission to include in its integrated policy report an assessment of the potential for forest biomass waste energy to provide firm renewable power. Requires ARB to develop a methodology to quantify the greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant emissions from wildfire, pile burning, and forest management activities.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/17/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 692   (Patterson, Jim)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: egress route projects: fire safety.   Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) egress route projects undertaken by a public agency to improve emergency access to and evacuation from a subdivision without a secondary egress route if the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has recommended the creation of a secondary access to the subdivision.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/26/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 704   (Patterson, Jim)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.   Exempts homes meeting certain requirements and rebuilt after being destroyed by a wildfire from state laws requiring installation of solar panels, until January 1, 2027.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 764   (Bryan)   Local redistricting.   Would make changes to California’s FAIR MAPS Act, as proposed the bill will be costly, time-consuming, and challenging to implement with existing county resources.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 5/31/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   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: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/5/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(3). (Last location was L. GOV. on 3/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 909   (Hoover)   Solid Waste Disposal and Codisposal Site Cleanup Program.   Makes illegally disposed hazardous wastes eligible for funding under the CalRecycle’s illegal dumping grant program.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 944   (Irwin)   Fire stations: alternative power generation.   Requires fire stations to have an alternative method to provide power generation for at least 96 hours during power outages.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/10/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 998   (Connolly)   Biomass energy facilities: State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: report.   Requires the Energy Commission to issue a report on the utility-scale biomass combustion facilities still in operation as of January 1, 2024. The report must include an assessment of operational factors of each facility, a comparison of direct combustion compared to other biomass energy technologies, and a recommended strategy, if appropriate, to repower biomass combustion facilities to noncombustion conversion technologies. The report must include recommendations and strategies related to areas where combustion biomass facilities may be shut down or repowered, including strategies related to baseload power generation, processing waste, and job training.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 5/31/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1000   (Reyes)   Qualifying logistics use projects.   Prohibits local governments from approving warehouse development projects located within 1,000 feet of a large variety of sensitive receptors. Imposes new conditions on local approval of warehouse projects between 750-1000 feet of those sensitive receptors, in addition to mitigation measures required under CEQA.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was L. GOV. on 4/17/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (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 Rules   Status: 5/31/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1248   (Bryan)   Local redistricting: independent redistricting commissions.   Would require counties with populations of 300,000 or above to create an independent redistricting commission for the 2030 redistricting process.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 5/31/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1272   (Wood)   State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning.   Requires 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 require 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. Authorizes State Board to issue a cease and desist order when a diversion or use violates or threatens to violate an applicable limitation or requirement adopted by the state board for the diversion and use of water in specified coastal watersheds during times of water shortage. The bill would authorize a person who violates a principle, guideline, or requirement adopted by the state board for the diversion and use of water in specified coastal watersheds during times of water shortage to be held liable in an amount not to exceed the sum of $500 for each day that the violation occurs.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 5/31/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1337   (Wicks)   State Water Resources Control Board: water diversion curtailment.   Authorizes 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. The bill would require the board to provide notice and an opportunity to be heard before issuing an order. The bill would provide that a person or entity may be civilly liable for a violation pursuant to these provisions in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day in which the violation has occurred and $2,500 for each acre-foot of water diverted or used in violation of the applicable requirement.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 5/31/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1448   (Wallis)   Cannabis: enforcement by local jurisdictions.   AB 1448 would enhance local enforcement mechanisms for unlicensed cannabis activities by creating a streamlined local administrative penalty process, allow local jurisdictions to utilize statutory penalties and create more collection options.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1484   (Zbur)   Temporary public employees.   While AB 1484 is ostensibly intended to benefit temporary employees of local public agencies, in reality, it will directly harm these employees by severely limiting their future opportunities for temporary employment. This bill would: inflexibly mandate that temporary employees must be included within the same bargaining unit as permanent employees; and that the wages, hours, plus terms and conditions of employment for both temporary and permanent employees must be bargained together in a single memorandum of understanding. This result is already possible under current law, but only if the temporary and permanent employees have a "community of interest" making such combined treatment appropriate – an important component of fair representation and bargaining that this bill eschews.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1548   (Hart)   Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: grant program: recycling infrastructure projects.   Expands CalRecycle’s existing solid and organic waste recycling grant program to help local governments get recycled material into the marketplace, find new homes for useful consumer goods, and expand local edible food recovery programs.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1563   (Bennett)   Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification.   Requires 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 Rules   Status: 5/26/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1597   (Alvarez)   Water quality: California-Mexico cross-border rivers.   Provides that funds may be made available, upon appropriation, to the North American Development Bank for loans, grants, and direct expenditures to address water quality problems arising in the California-Mexico cross-border rivers. Requires funding to be available for water quality projects for the Tijuana River and for projects consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Plan.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (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 Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1637   (Irwin)   Local government: internet websites and email addresses.   AB 1637 would require local agencies to secure and utilize their website through a new .gov or .ca.gov domain no later than January 1, 2026. It would also require all employee email addresses to reflect the updated domain within the same time frame. There are no financial resources connected to this bill resulting in an unfunded mandate to counties.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1713   (Gipson)   State and local agencies: federal funds: reports.   AB 1713 would require state agencies that receive federal funds subject to an expiration date to submit a written report to the Legislature no later than one year before the funding expiration date with a summary of how funds have been expended, and to provide a plan for the remaining funds to be expended. The bill would also require local agencies to include a similar report on an agenda of a public meeting of their legislative body. Local governments rely on federal funding to provide numerous local services on behalf of the state, much of which is associated with our role as the provider of federal entitlement programs, like Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, etc. Accordingly, local governments seek to maximize federal funding opportunities to provide these necessary services to the residents we serve. Unfortunately, AB 1713 would require local governments to be in a state of perpetual reporting or – in most instances – require duplicative reporting.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 23   (Caballero)   Water supply and flood risk reduction projects: expedited permitting.   Authorizes 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 make 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 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 35   (Umberg)   Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.     Location: Assembly Health   Status: 5/11/2023-Referred to Com. on HEALTH.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 43   (Eggman)   Behavioral health.     Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/26/2023-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 69   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: local agencies: filing of notices of determination or exemption.   Requires local agencies to file California Environmental Quality Act notices with the Office of Planning and Research, in addition to the county clerk, and requires those notices (including any subsequent or amended notice) to be posted both by the county clerk and on the State Clearinghouse website within 24 hours of receipt and for a period of 30 days.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/31/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

SB 75   (Roth)   Courts: judgeships.   SB 75 would authorize 26 new superior court judgeships, subject to appropriation. If funded in the budget, any new judgeships would be allocated to counties in the state in accordance with the Judicial Council's Judicial Needs Assessment.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/25/2023-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 91   (Umberg)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: supportive and transitional housing: motel conversion.   Repeals the sunset date of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for conversion a motel, hotel, residential hotel, or hostel to supportive or transitional housing.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 5/11/2023-Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and H. & C.D.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 367   (Seyarto)   Farm, ranch, and public lands cleanup and abatement: grant program.   Creates a grant program to facilitate the proper disposal of illegally dumped waste on state and federal lands.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/25/2023-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 389   (Allen)   State Water Resources Control Board: determination of water right.   Authorize State Water Board to investigate the diversion and use of water from a stream system to determine whether the diversion and use are based upon appropriation, riparian right, or other basis of right. Allows State Board to issue an information order to a water right claimant, diverter, or user to provide technical reports or other information related to a diversion and use of water, including, but not limited to, all of the following: the basis of the water right claimed, the patent date claimed for the place of use, the notice date of the appropriation, and information related to the diversions and use of transferred water.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/31/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 393   (Glazer)   California Environmental Quality Act: judicial challenge: identification of contributors: housing development projects.   Allows a CEQA defendant to file a motion requesting the plaintiff or petitioner to disclose the identity of persons and entities that contribute more than $10,000 towards litigation costs for housing projects. Requires a plaintiff or petitioner to identify any pecuniary or economic interest related to any person who contributes more than $5,000 to the costs of the action.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 5/26/2023-Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

SB 406   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: financial assistance: housing.   Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act actions of a local agency to provide financial assistance or insurance for the development and construction of low- or moderate-income residential housing.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 5/18/2023-Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and H. & C.D.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 410   (Becker)   Powering Up Californians Act.   Seeks to improve electrical distribution planning, reduce interconnection delays, and ensure that California residents and businesses can timely access new and increased service for general economic growth, housing production, and meeting the state’s decarbonization goals. Charges the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) with establishing reasonable average and maximum interconnection time periods.   Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 6/1/2023-Referred to Com. on U. & E.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (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 Desk   Status: 6/1/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 507   (Gonzalez)   Electric vehicle charging station infrastructure: assessments.   Requires the Energy Commission to assess the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure needed to meet zero-emission vehicle goals and ensure equitable deployment of EV charging infrastructure, including whether EV charging stations are disproportionately distributed, and whether homes have equal access to electrical panel upgrades to support at-home charging in single-family and multi-family housing. SB 507 requires the Energy Commission to quantify EV charging needs of rural, low-income, as well as disadvantaged communities and provide recommendations to remove barriers to achieve equity of EV charging infrastructure.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/8/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Leigh (1)

SB 525   (Durazo)   Minimum wage: health care workers.   SB 525 proposes to raise the health care minimum wage broadly across the health sector to $25 per hour, including for employees working in county agencies – specifically, county health departments, county mental health departments, county correctional health settings, county hospitals, and county owned and operated clinics. Additionally, SB 525 requires salaried employees to be paid twice the proposed $25/hour minimum wage – creating a new salary base of $104,000 per year.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 6/1/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 551   (Portantino)   Mental health boards.   SB 551 would divert 20% of the prevention and early intervention funds from the Mental Health Services Fund (MHSA), to provide direct services on school campuses.   Location: Assembly Health   Status: 6/1/2023-Referred to Com. on HEALTH.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 613   (Seyarto)   Organic waste: reduction goals: local jurisdictions: low-population exemption.   Exempts from SB 1383 regulations local jurisdictions that dispose less than 5,000 tons of solid waste per year and that have fewer than 7,500 people.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/25/2023-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 615   (Allen)   Vehicle traction batteries.   Requires all electric vehicle traction batteries to be recovered, reused, repurposed, remanufactured, or recycled at the end of their useful life in a motor vehicle or other application. Requires vehicle manufacturers, dismantlers, and secondary users to be responsible for end-of-life management of the battery.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/25/2023-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 620   (McGuire)   Low-impact camping areas.     Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/25/2023-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 642   (Cortese)   Hazardous materials: enforcement: county counsel.   Allows county counsels to enforce provisions of state law related to aboveground storage tanks, underground storage tanks, medical waste, and hazardous materials business plans.   Location: Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials   Status: 5/18/2023-Referred to Coms. on E.S. & T.M. and JUD.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

SB 651   (Grove)   Water storage and recharge: California Environmental Quality Act.     Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 6/1/2023-Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and NAT. RES.    Staff: 

SB 672   (McGuire)   State highways: parklets.   Requires CA Department of Transportation to establish a standard fee structure for the application and placement of a parklet on a state highway, as specified. Prohibits the department from charging an encroachment permit fee for the application and placement of a parklet on a state highway. The bill would require the department to consider an encroachment permit application for commercial use. Requires the department to comply with applicable state and federal law in establishing the standard fee structure, authorize the department to adjust the fee schedule to comply with applicable state and federal law, and require the department to report to the Legislature if it adjusts the fee schedule to comply with applicable state or federal law.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/25/2023-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 675   (Limón)   Prescribed grazing: local assistance grant program: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.     Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/31/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 751   (Padilla)   Franchise agreements: labor dispute.   Prohibits any franchise contracts, licenses, or permits for solid waste handling services entered into or amended by a local agency on or after January 1, 2024 from excusing the service provider from performance in the event of a labor dispute.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/31/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 753   (Caballero)   Cannabis: water resources.   SB 753 amends Section 11358 of the Health and Safety Code to include groundwater as a public resource, and establishes that the theft of groundwater, unauthorized tapping into a water conveyance or storage infrastructure, or digging an unpermitted, illegal well may also be punished by imprisonment. This is an RCRC Sponsored Bill.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 6/1/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 820   (Alvarado-Gil)   Cannabis: enforcement: seizure of property.   SB 820 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: Senate 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)