The Barbed Wire - March 24, 2023

March 22, 2023
RCRC Nominates Tedd Ward from Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority to CalRecycle’s New SB 54 Single-Use Packaging Advisory Board
Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 817 (Pacheco) - Open Meetings: Teleconferencing: Subsidiary Body
Assembly Bill 944 (Irwin) Would Require Fire Stations to Install Backup Generators, Battery Storage, or Renewable Generation Facilities
Lawmakers Send Letter Requesting Full Funding for Federal PILT Program
SAFE Banking Act Hearings Delayed Due to Banking Crisis
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP
IN THE NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC Nominates Tedd Ward from Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority to CalRecycle’s New SB 54 Single-Use Packaging Advisory Board

On March 22nd, RCRC nominated, Tedd Ward, Director of Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority, to CalRecycle’s SB 54 Advisory Board.   

SB 54 (Allen) of 2022 requires manufacturers of single use packaging and food service ware to take responsibility for the management and recycling of the products they introduce into the stream of commerce.  SB 54 also creates an Advisory Board comprised of various solid waste, environmental, and local government stakeholders, including one who is to be nominated by a statewide rural county organization.  This Advisory Board will help inform the state about infrastructure needs and barriers to support reuse and recycling and provide advice to CalRecycle on developing and implementing SB 54 regulations.   

Tedd Ward has over 30 years of experience in local government solid waste management and recycling; has chaired the Rural Counties’ Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority (ESJPA) Technical Advisory Group since 2020; and served for two years on California’s Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets & Curbside Recycling.  He has consistently provided valuable insights and direction to both ESJPA and RCRC over the last five years; RCRC is pleased to nominate him to the SB 54 Advisory Board. 

RCRC supported SB 54 as a way to shift responsibility for end-of-life management of materials introduced into the marketplace.   

For more information, please contact John Kennedy, RCRC Policy Advocate. 

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 817 (Pacheco) - Open Meetings: Teleconferencing: Subsidiary Body

RCRC, along with a coalition of local government association partners, is sponsoring Assembly Bill 817, authored by Assembly Member Blanca Pacheco (D-Downey).  The bill would remove barriers to entry for appointed and elected office by allowing non-decision-making legislative bodies that do not have the ability to take final action to participate in two-way virtual teleconferencing without posting location. 

Specifically, AB 817 would provide a narrow exemption under the Ralph M. Brown Act for non-decision-making legislative bodies that do not have the ability to take final action on any legislation, regulations, contracts, licenses, permits, or other entitlements. The current requirement for in-person participation in local legislative bodies presents a disproportionate challenge for those with physical or economic limitations, including seniors, persons with disability, single parents and/or caretakers, economically marginalized groups, and those who live in rural areas and face prohibitive driving distances. This legislation would remove barriers to participation. 

Counties wishing to support this legislation may use the draft support letter available for download here

The bill has been referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee. RCRC’s letter of support is available here. For more information, please contact Sarah Dukett, RCRC Policy Advocate.

Assembly Bill 944 (Irwin) Would Require Fire Stations to Install Backup Generators, Battery Storage, or Renewable Generation Facilities

Beginning January 1, 2026, Assembly Bill 944 (Irwin, D – Thousand Oaks) would require fire stations to have an alternative source of power to ensure continued operations for at least 96 hours during any type of power outage.  Those alternative sources of power may include backup generators, large capacity batteries, and renewable electrical generation facilities.  If using a backup generator, the facility must maintain sufficient fuel onsite (or arrange for fuel delivery contracts) to ensure continued operation for at least 96 hours.

Many areas of the state have been plagued by widespread and long duration power outages for the last several years.  As utilities have shifted away from larger, preemptive Public Safety Power Shutoff outages, there have been a substantial increase in unplanned fast trip outages that, while smaller in scope, are far more frequent and dislocating for residents and communities.  These outages, which are intended to reduce utility-caused wildfire risk, have impacted the ability of many critical local facilities to maintain operations.

RCRC strongly supported state budget augmentations that provided grants to local governments to procure backup generators; however, the need far outstripped the amount of funding available.  RCRC supports local resiliency efforts and continues to push for utilities to harden their systems to reduce the size, scope, and frequency of wildfire prevention-related outages.  It is unclear at this point how existing utility challenges to upgrade distribution infrastructure in a timely manner will impact the ability to meet the bill’s deadline.

RCRC has not yet taken a position on the measure.  For more information or to provide feedback on how this requirement would impact your local operations, please contact John Kennedy, RCRC Policy Advocate.

Lawmakers Send Letter Requesting Full Funding for Federal PILT Program

Over twenty U.S. Representatives have signed a letter to the Appropriations Committee, requesting full funding for the PILT (Payments In Lieu of Taxes) program for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24).  The President’s Budget for FY24, released in early March, calls on the Department of the Interior to provide $535 million in funding for PILT. RCRC, with the assistance of our federal lobbyist team at American Continental Group, Inc., joined NACo in securing signatures for the letter. Several members of the California Delegation have signed the letter, including Representatives Jim Costa (D-Fresno), Jared Huffman (D-North Coast), Mike Thompson (D-Napa), Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Monterey). Federal PILT remains a critical funding source for many of California’s rural counties, many of which contain significant federal landholdings where Federal PILT counts as a sizable share of the county services budget.

SAFE Banking Act Hearings Delayed Due to Banking Crisis

On March 23rd, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, reported that hearings on the SAFE Banking Act have been postponed in order to focus on the response to the financial turmoil caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The bipartisan bill, which seeks to open banking services to marijuana businesses, is expected to be delayed by just a few weeks.  

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

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.

 

Cannabis Grant Applications Now Open for Local Jurisdictions

The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has announced a Retail Access Grant to provide resources for local governments to develop and implement cannabis retailer licensing programs. This funding can be used by counties that currently do not have a cannabis retail licensing program to comply with SB 1186, with funding (ranging from $100,000 to $325,000) awarded based on population and can be used for personnel costs (such as salary and benefits for local government staff), permitting expenses (e.g. software costs), environmental reviews and other uses. The grant guidelines may be found here, and Phase 1 applications ($10 million total) are due by 5pm on April 28, 2023.   DCC is providing “priority review points” to cities or counties in the following RCRC grant-eligible counties: Amador, Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Madera, Placer, San Benito, Sutter, Tehama, and Yuba.  

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced over $20 million is available in 2022-23 for Cannabis Restoration Grants, including to support the cleanup, remediation, and enhancement of watersheds and wildlife habitats impacted by illicit cannabis cultivation. CDFW is accepting grant proposals from eligible applicants, such as counties, on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted. Project types may include, for example, cleanup and remediation of impacts on (qualified) public land and private land, decommissioning roads, upgrading road crossings, upgrading culverts, and other projects that minimize erosion and sediment delivery, increase water conservation, and/or enhance biodiversity and wildlife habitat. Program guidelines can be viewed here; for more information, see here

 

Upcoming PG&E Wildfire Safety Webinars

PG&E hosts online webinars throughout each year for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Community Wildfire Safety Program. These virtual gatherings allow community members to learn more about wildfire safety and emergency preparedness, meet with PG&E representatives, ask questions and share feedback. For anyone who is not able to join a live webinar, presentations and video recordings of our past webinars are available on the PG&E website here

The next webinar is scheduled for March 30, 2023 (Napa and Marin Counties)

Join webinar 
Attendee Dial In:  1-888-790-1836
Conference ID: 7108900

For a full list of upcoming webinars, see here.

 

Office of State Public Defender Announces Launch of a New California Data Hub with County-Specific Resources brought to you by the Vera Institute of Justice

On March 16th,  the Vera Institute of Justice launched a new California Data Hub, which provides county-specific resources for county leaders interested in analyzing spending for criminal justice. With a separate fact sheet for each county, the data hub combines CDCR, DOJ, BSCC and Controller’s office data to give easy access to charts that can be downloaded. It includes helpful data points such as:

  • Dollars spent on different parts of the county budget, including a breakdown of prosecution, defense, probation, sheriff
  • Arrest rates by race within a particular county
  • Percentage of people incarcerated within the county who have a mental health issue
  • Percentage of people in your county jail who are awaiting trial
  • Percentage of cases that are misdemeanors / felonies / violent felonies within a county
  • Suggestions of what specific resources a county could pay for if they kept jail spending at 2017 levels (i.e. 34 mental health counselors, 225 one-bedroom apartments for the homeless)
  • Statewide comparisons for incarceration rates by county
  • Downloadable images and data sets

Explore the data hub here.

 

CALEPA and DTSC Issue Interim Advisory on Handling and Management of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer

The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) issued an Interim Advisory on Handling and Management of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer on March 16th. The coronavirus pandemic triggered the need for large volumes of alcohol-based hand sanitizer for businesses, schools, and other entities across California. Some of these entities procured alcohol-based hand sanitizer in excess of need and could not consume or manage the excess material. Much of that alcohol-based hand sanitizer is now expiring. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be considered a hazardous material, and additionally, an ignitable hazardous waste once it is no longer usable for its intended purpose. Read the full advisory here.

 

The CivicSpark Fellow Application for the 2023-24 service year is Now Open 

For 11 months, beginning in September, over 100 Fellows will bring energy, commitment, and drive to support communities tackle their climate and community resilience challenges while gaining professional experience. After launching pilot cohorts in Colorado and Washington last year, CivicSpark is excited to continue to serve those states, in addition to California. The priority deadline is April 7th. 

Register for an upcoming informational webinar and visit our website to learn more about our program and how you can support and strengthen communities.

For more information, visit the website here.

 

Training: Land Use Planning for Wildfire (Free!) 

The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection announces the launch of the CAL FIRE / Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Introduction to Land Use Planning for Wildfires in California Trainings.  

These free, all-day, in person trainings are open to land use planners, fire marshals, fire chiefs, fire mitigation specialists, building officials, and other professionals from government agencies and the private sector engaged in planning, policy, development review and/or approval activities in California. 

The following is a list of upcoming trainings across the state. 

  • April 18, 2023 – Del Rey 
  • April 20, 2023 – Los Osos 

Space is limited. For more information and to register, see here

view flyer

 

Career Opportunities

Mendocino County (NEW!)

  • Environmental Health Technician $46,072.00 - $56,035.20 Annually; apply by 4/3/23
  • Environmental Health Specialist I/II – $55,993.60 - $75,067.20 Annually; apply by 4/6/23

For full job descriptions and application, please direct candidates to www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mendocinoca

Sierra County

  • The County of Sierra is seeking a Director of Health and Social Services, responsible for the management and administration of Department of Health and Social Services.  A full description and qualifications are available here. For more information, visit the county website here or call (530) 289-2879.
  • The Sierra County Department of Transportation is recruiting for a Transportation Planner II or III, depending on qualifications. This position is open until filled. For more information, see the county website here or call 530-289-2879

Tuolumne County

  • Tuolumne County Public Works is seeking an experienced integrated waste professional with extensive knowledge of environmental regulations and compliance to oversee the collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste and hazardous materials, provide public outreach and training, promote recycling programs, maintain two closed landfills, and negotiate and monitor contracts for environmental and landfill services. The Director of Solid Waste, as a key member of the management team, will oversee a staff of four and provide expert advice and support to the Director, Board members, and the community.  Bachelor’s degree and three years’ experience in solid waste management with two years at a supervisory or higher level. Flexible schedule 90/8 or 20%-40% telework considered for right candidate. Position is open until filled. EOE For additional details, see here.

Yolo County

  • The County of Yolo is recruiting to fill one (1) regular, full-time position in the class of Public Information Officer (PIO) at the County Administrator's Office. The role of the Public Information Officer is to manage the County’s communications with the public through press releases, social media, videos, live media and the County website. The PIO informs and engages the community and other stakeholders regarding County activities, services, and strategies.  The PIO also functions as the County Spokesperson which requires knowledge of County programs and policies. As a member of the County Emergency Operations Center personnel, the PIO also acts in a lead capacity in disseminating information during an emergency. The full job announcement can be found here. This position is open until filled.

 

CMSP Offering Healthcare Infrastructure Development Matching Grant

The CMSP Healthcare Infrastructure Development Matching Grant program (HID Matching Grant) will help CMSP counties and non-profits contracted with CMSP counties to expand their physical capacity to provide healthcare and behavioral health services by providing required local level match funds for state, federal or other infrastructure grants.  Up to $10 Million may be awarded!  Awards range up to $500,000 for projects serving a single CMSP county and up to $ 1,000,000 for projects serving multiple CMSP counties. HID Matching Grant applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, beginning February 1, 2023 through June 1, 2023.   Applications will be considered as they are received and will be submitted to the Governing Board for consideration at an upcoming regularly scheduled public meeting of the Board. Completed applications must be submitted to grants@cmspcounties.org by June 1, 2023. To learn full program details and requirements, or to download an application, visit the CMSP website here.

 

Institute for Local Government Launches New Digital Planning Commissioner Handbook & Regional Trainings

The Institute for Local Government (ILG) recently released an updated version of their Planning Commissioners Handbook. This handbook is designed to support planning commissioners, their staff, and other officials interested in land use and planning; to help local officials understand the planning process; and provide a glimpse of some potential planning challenges commissioners may experience during their terms. The handbook describes the major terms, plans, and policies that make up the framework of local planning, as well as typical stakeholders in the process and the basics of reviewing applications for development.

In conjunction with this release, ILG is hosting regional training sessions for planning commissioners. These interactive sessions will take place in person at various locations throughout the state and will cover topics such as the role of a planning commission, how to work effectively with staff and the governing board, effective community engagement, CEQA basics, required planning documents, and local and regional planning challenges and opportunities. Each session will give participants the opportunity to engage with experts in the field and fellow planning commissioners to hear best practices, emerging trends, and lessons learned. All sessions are FREE but space is limited and registration is required. Find a full schedule and register here.

Next Trainings: Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Yuba and Sutter Counties, POSTPONED to April 14, 2023

 

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

KEEPING UP

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

 

27th District Agricultural Association, Shasta District Fair Board

Deborah Baldwin-Pulcini, of Whitmore, has been appointed to the 27th District Agricultural Association, Shasta District Fair Board. Baldwin-Pulcini was a Senior Specialist Real Property Appraiser at the Shasta County Assessor and Recorder’s Office from 1986 to 2011. She is a member of the Whitmore Union Elementary School Board, the Girl Scouts of America, the American Red Cross and Shasta County Employees Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Baldwin-Pulcini is a Democrat. 

Paul Mantor, of Redding, has been appointed to the 27th District Agricultural Association, Shasta District Fair Board. Mantor has been a Branch Manager at PeopleReady since 2021. He was a Sales Manager at Preferred Lease from 2020 to 2021. Mantor was a Store Manager for Office Depot from 2008 to 2015 and a Sales Manager there from 2004 to 2005. He was a Store Manager at OfficeMax from 2008 to 2014. Mantor was a General Manager at Duracite from 2007 to 2008, Branch Manager at Emser from 2005 to 2006 and a District Manager for Sprint from 2001 to 2004. He was a Store Manager at Circuit City from 1992 to 2000, a Territory Sales Manager for Whirlpool Corporation from 1987 to 1989 and a Corporate Buyer at Platt Music Corporation from 1977 to 1987. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Mantor is a Democrat. 

Leslie “Les” Mason, of Redding, has been appointed to the 27th District Agricultural Association, Shasta District Fair Board. Mason was a Shipper and Receiver at KMS Research Labs from 1978 to 1986. He was a Correctional Officer at various locations between 1986 and 2009, including the California Men’s Facility, Pelican Bay State Prison, and the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. Mason is a member of the Anderson Rotary, Anderson Explodes and the Redding Rodeo Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Mason is registered without party preference. 

 

29th District Agricultural Association, Mother Lode Fair Board

Jacqueline “Jackie” Campidonica, of Soulsbyville, has been appointed to the 29th District Agricultural Association, Mother Lode Fair Board. Campidonica has been Personal Assistant to the Chairman of the Chicken Ranch Rancheria since 2023. She was an Administration Supervisor at the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal Council from 2002 to 2023. Campidonica was an Administrator and Collector at the Yosemite Title Company from 1997 to 2002. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Campidonica is a Republican.    

Andrew Collier, of Jamestown, has been appointed to the 29th District Agricultural Association, Mother Lode Fair Board. Collier was a Lieutenant of Investigations at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 1996 to 2018. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Collier is registered without party preference. 

Ida Ponder, of Jamestown, has been appointed to the 29th District Agricultural Association, Mother Lode Fair Board. Ponder has been a Professor at Columbia College in the Yosemite Community College District since 1997. She was an Inventory Accountant at Cost-U-Less from 1993 to 1997. Ponder earned a Master of Business Administration degree from La Salle University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ponder is registered without party preference.   

Dimitri Postolu, of Sonora, has been appointed to the 29th District Agricultural Association, Mother Lode Fair Board. Postolu has been an Equipment Operator II at the California Department of Transportation since 2008. He has been Owner of Postolu Transport Service since 1995. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Postolu is a Republican.    
 

Other Appointments

Jordan D. Joaquin, of Fort Yuma, Quechan Indian Reservation, has been appointed to the Colorado River Board. Joaquin has served as President of the Quechan Tribe since 2019, having been re-elected for a second four-year term in December 2022. He was a Council Member with the Quechan Indian Tribe from 2008 to 2010. Joaquin retired as a Sergeant from the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office in 2017 after 28 years of service. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Joaquin is a Democrat

Sandra Matsumoto, of Davis, has been reappointed to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, where she has served since 2018. Matsumoto has been Director of the California Water Program at the Nature Conservancy since 2020, where she was Associate Director from 2015 to 2020 and Project Director from 2004 to 2015. She was Project Manager at the Los Angeles Community Design Center from 2003 to 2004 and a Project Analyst at Mintz Levin from 1997 to 1999. She is an advisor to the Public Policy Institute of California’s Water Policy Center and a board member of the Water Education Foundation. Matsumoto earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Management. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Matsumoto is a Democrat.

Jennifer “Jaime Coffee” Newman, of West Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Commissioner for Communications at the California Highway Patrol. Newman has been Communications and Outreach Manager for the Southern California Region at the California High-Speed Rail Authority since 2022. She served in several positions at the California Highway Patrol from 2005 to 2022, including Information Officer II and Information Officer I. She has been a Public Address Announcer since 2001 for numerous organizations, including the NCAA, PAC-12 Conference, Sacramento Republic FC, California State University, Sacramento, and the Sacramento Monarchs. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State University, Fresno. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $144,996. Newman is registered without party preference.

James Regan, of Roseville, has been appointed Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development at the Government Operations Agency. Regan has been Assistant Deputy Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information since 2021. He was a COVID-19 Emergency Response Program Director for the California Department of Public Health from 2020 to 2021. Regan held several positions at the California Department of Public Health from 2015 to 2021, including Acting Assistant Deputy Director for the Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Special Project Director and Policy Advisor, Project Manager and Operational Policy Specialist, Legislative Liaison, and Program Analyst. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Merced. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $151,224. Regan is a Democrat.

Megan Rocha, of McKinleyville, has been appointed to the Ocean Protection Council. Rocha has been Executive Director at Resighini Rancheria since 2019. She was Natural Resources Director for the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation from 2017 to 2019. Rocha was an Independent Consultant from 2011 to 2109. She was an Indian Economic and Community Development Specialist with the Office for Economic, Community and Business Development at Humboldt State University from 2010 to 2013. Rocha was an Environmental Coordinator for the Yurok Tribe from 2004 to 2009. She was an Instructor at College of the Redwoods from 2005 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rocha is a Democrat.

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.

 

Who buys electric cars in California? – CalMatters

In this CalMatters article, RCRC’s Deputy Chief Economic Development Officer, Bob Burris, is featured highlighting the challenges rural communities face when looking to make the transition to electric vehicles, including concerns related to reliability, disaster evacuation, and availability of charging stations. 

 

Newsom touts Imperial County's 'Lithium Valley' as future in green energy – KPBS Public Media

On Monday, Governor Newsom wrapped up a weeklong tour of the state in RCRC-member Imperial County, to better understand the region's extraction possibilities for lithium, an essential resource in electric vehicle battery production. The California Energy Commission estimates the "Lithium Valley," as it is colloquially known, has the potential to meet all of the United States' projected demand and up to 40% of global demand. With additional investment in the industry, policymakers hope to attract high paying clean energy jobs to the area.

 

Harris unveils $197 million for wildfire resilience – Los Angeles Times

On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris detailed how the federal government intends to allocate $197 million in federal grants to support high wildfire-risk areas across 22 states and 7 tribes. As part of this plan, 29 grants will be directed toward California communities, including RCRC member counties Kern, Butte and Tuolumne, to support wildfire prevention and suppression efforts, including additional training, firefighter housing, and equipment acquisition.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Information related to the current status of legislation impacting California’s rural counties.

AB 3   (Zbur)   Offshore wind energy: reports.   States Legislative intent to accelerate the approval, implementation, and operation of offshore wind energy projects necessary to meet California’s climate action goals and the transition to a clean energy economy, clarify the authority of California governmental agencies related to the analysis and selection of feasible alternatives for seawater ports and transmission infrastructure improvements required to construct wind energy projects along the California coast, and specify criteria for the analysis and selection of port and transmission alternatives related to offshore wind energy projects to ensure the protection of the environment and sensitive habitats and robust community participation and comment, to keep the maximum number of jobs related to the construction of offshore wind energy projects in California, and to achieve environmental justice goals.   Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 3/23/2023-Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 50   (Wood)   Public utilities: timely service: timely electrical interconnection.     Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 3/23/2023-Referred to Com. on U. & E. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 54   (Aguiar-Curry)   Department of Food and Agriculture: research funding: winegrapes: smoke exposure.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 3/16/2023-Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1), Staci (1)

AB 62   (Mathis)   Statewide water storage: expansion.     Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 2/28/2023-Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 68   (Ward)   Land use: streamlined housing approvals: density, subdivision, and utility approvals.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 3/20/2023-Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 3/22/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 297   (Fong, Vince)   Wildfires: local assistance grant program: advance payments.     Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 2/2/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 338   (Aguiar-Curry)   Public works: definition.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 3/22/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 344   (Wood)   Electricity: load-serving entities: offshore wind facilities.   Authorizes electrical corporations, electric service providers, and community choice aggregators to jointly enter into agreements to procure electricity generated from offshore wind facilities.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 3/23/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (March 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 356   (Mathis)   California Environmental Quality Act: aesthetic impacts.   Repeals 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: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/14/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 422   (Alanis)   Natural Resources Agency: statewide water storage: tracking.     Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 2/9/2023-Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.   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 Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 3/6/2023-Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 460   (Bauer-Kahan)   State Water Resources Control Board: interim relief.     Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 2/17/2023-Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and JUD.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 592   (Wilson)   Vehicles: waste hauling.   Allows Contra Costa County, or any other county, to create a program to regulate nonfranchise waste hauling operations within the county.   Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 3/16/2023-Referred to Com. on L. GOV.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 625   (Aguiar-Curry)   Forest Biomass Waste Utilization Program.   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. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to extend the BioMAT program until all 250 MW of capacity are procured.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/23/2023-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (March 22).   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 643   (Berman)   Electricity: interconnection timelines: report.   Requires the Public Utilities Commission to submit a report to the Legislature on timelines for the interconnection of customer-sited energy generation and storage resources. Require the commission to consider the negligent exceedance of an interconnection timeline by an electrical corporation to be a failure to comply with a rule of the commission and subject to a penalty. Requires an electrical corporation to provide a substantial response to any queries from an interconnection applicant related to the completeness of the application and the submission of supporting information to pending applications within 3 business days.   Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 2/17/2023-Referred to Com. on U. & E.   Position:   Watch   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 Natural Resources   Status: 2/23/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 704   (Patterson, Jim)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.   Exempts homes rebuilt after being destroyed by a wildfire from state laws requiring installation of solar panels, until January 1, 2027.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/2/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 772   (Jackson)   Electric vehicle chargers.   Require the Energy Commission to require that each single-family residence constructed on and after January 1, 2025 include a rapid compact electric vehicle charger and that each multifamily residence constructed on and after January 1, 2025 include sufficient rapid compact electric vehicle chargers to serve at least 10% of its residential capacity at any given time.   Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 3/2/2023-Referred to Com. on U. & E.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (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 Local Government   Status: 3/20/2023-Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.   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 Natural Resources   Status: 3/2/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 944   (Irwin)   Fire stations: alternative power generation.   Declares Legislative intent to require fire stations to have an alternative method of power generation during power outages.   Location: Assembly Emergency Management   Status: 3/21/2023-Re-referred to Com. on E.M.   Position:   Watch   Staff: 

AB 978   (Patterson, Joe)   California Environmental Quality Act: housing projects: judicial review: bonds.   Require a person seeking judicial review of the decision of a lead agency made pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to carry out or approve a housing project to post a bond of $500,000 to cover the costs and damages to the housing project incurred by the respondent or real party in interest.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 2/23/2023-Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 982   (Villapudua)   Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund.   Establishes the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund and requires the Public Utilities Commission to allocate the moneys in the fund for purposes of funding the Family Electric Rate Assistance program, programs funded through an electrical corporation’s public purpose program rate component as of December 31, 2023, including the CARE program, and other programs determined by the commission to provide public benefits.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 3/23/2023-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (March 22).   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: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/16/2023-Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1152   (Patterson, Joe)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: recycled water.   Exempts from CEQA a project to construct or expand a recycled water pipeline for the purpose of mitigating drought conditions for which a state of emergency was proclaimed by the Governor. Exempts from CEQA the development and approval of building standards by state agencies for recycled water systems.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/2/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1155   (Flora)   Wildfire mitigation plans: vegetation management: vegetation inspection standards.     Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 3/20/2023-Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1238   (Ward)   Hazardous waste: solar panels.   Requires DTSC to develop alternative management standards for recycling solar panels to reduce the regulatory burden on management and recycling.   Location: Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials   Status: 3/22/2023-Re-referred to Com. on E.S. & T.M.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1272   (Wood)   State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning.     Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 3/2/2023-Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1337   (Wicks)   State Water Resources Control Board: water shortage enforcement.     Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 3/2/2023-Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and JUD.   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: Assembly B.&p.   Status: 3/22/2023-Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1488   (Wallis)   California Environmental Quality Act: environmental leadership development projects: water storage, water conveyance, and groundwater recharge projects: streamlined review.   Requires the Judicial Council to adopt rules of court applicable to actions or proceedings brought to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the certification or adoption of an environmental impact report for water conveyance or storage projects, as defined, or the granting of project approvals, including any appeals to the court of appeal or the Supreme Court, to be resolved, to the extent feasible, within 270 days of the filing of the certified record of proceedings. Requires the lead agency to concurrently prepare the record of proceedings for a water conveyance or storage project.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/9/2023-Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended. (Amended 3/23/2023)   Position:   Pending   Staff: 

AB 1534   (Irwin)   Methane emissions: municipal solid waste landfills: remote sensing data.   Requires ARB to incorporate the use of remote sensing data into its landfill methane emissions regulations.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/9/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1548   (Hart)   Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: grant program: recycling infrastructure projects.     Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/20/2023-Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1554   (Patterson, Joe)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: wildfire fuels reduction projects.   Exempts from CEQA fuels reduction projects in areas within moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/9/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1563   (Bennett)   Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification.     Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 3/9/2023-Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1597   (Alvarez)   Water quality: California-Mexico cross-border rivers.   Makes $50 million available, upon appropriation from the General Fund, 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. T   Location: Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials   Status: 3/9/2023-Referred to Coms. on E.S. & T.M. and JUD.    Staff: 

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: Assembly B.&p.   Status: 3/9/2023-Referred to Com. on B. & P.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1700   (Hoover)   California Environmental Quality Act: population growth and noise impacts: housing projects.   Provides that population growth, in and of itself, resulting from a housing project and noise impacts of a housing project are not an effect on the environment for purposes of CEQA.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 3/9/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

SB 23   (Caballero)   Water supply and flood risk reduction projects: expedited permitting.     Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 3/23/2023-Set for hearing April 11.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 35   (Umberg)   Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.     Location: Senate Rules   Status: 3/21/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 38   (Laird)   Battery energy storage facilities: emergency response and evacuation plans.   States Legislature intent to enact future legislation to address the need for better safety systems at battery storage facilities.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 3/22/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 69   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: judicial and administrative proceedings: limitations.     Location: Senate Judiciary   Status: 3/21/2023-Set for hearing April 11.   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: Senate Judiciary   Status: 3/20/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.   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: Senate Housing   Status: 3/15/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HOUSING with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 15). Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 367   (Seyarto)   Farm, ranch, and public lands cleanup and abatement: grant program.   Seeks to create a grant program to facilitate the proper disposal of illegally dumped waste on state and federal lands.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 3/22/2023-Withdrawn from committee. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 378   (Gonzalez)   State parks: state beaches: expanded polystyrene food container and cooler ban.   Bans people from bringing an expanded polystyrene food container or cooler onto a state beach or in a unit of the state park system and for improper disposal of those products.   Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 2/22/2023-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 393   (Glazer)   California Environmental Quality Act: judicial challenge: identification of contributors: housing projects.   Requires a CEQA plaintiff or petitioner to disclose the identity of persons and entities that contribute more than $1,000 towards litigation costs. Requires a plaintiff or petitioner to identify any pecuniary or economic interest related to any person who contributes more than $1,000 to the costs of the action.   Location: Senate Judiciary   Status: 3/21/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on 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: Senate Housing   Status: 3/15/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HOUSING with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 15). Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 410   (Becker)   Powering Up Californians Act.   Requires electrical corporations to provide data to the Public Utilities Commission on the response time to provide upgraded electrical service to customers for electrification upgrades in buildings, panel upgrades, solar installations, or electric vehicle chargers.   Location: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications   Status: 3/14/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 420   (Becker)   Electricity: electrical transmission facility projects.   Requires the Governor to identify a lead agency to monitor clean energy and electrical transmission facility planning and deployment, and requires that agency to identify those electrical transmission facility projects necessary to maintain system reliability. Make that agency the lead agency for those projects for purposes of CEQA and deems those projects to be environmental leadership development projects for purposes of the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021.   Location: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 3/16/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (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 Transportation   Status: 3/21/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (March 21). Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Leigh (1)

SB 560   (Laird)   Solid waste: gas cylinders: stewardship program.   States legislative intent to establish a framework for expended producer responsibility for the end-of-life management of covered gas cylinders.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 3/22/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 568   (Newman)   Electronic waste: export.   Conditions the export of electronic waste and covered electronic devices upon a demonstration that capacity does not exist in California to safely and responsibly recycle that waste or device.   Location: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 3/20/2023-March 29 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (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: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 3/7/2023-Set for hearing March 29.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 615   (Allen)   Electric 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: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 3/7/2023-Set for hearing March 29.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (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: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 3/7/2023-Set for hearing March 29.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

SB 651   (Grove)   Water storage and recharge: California Environmental Quality Act: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009: exemptions.   Makes it the policy of the state that, to help advance groundwater recharge projects, and to demonstrate the feasibility of projects that can use available high water flows to recharge local groundwater while minimizing flood risks, the state board and the regional water quality control boards must prioritize water right permits, water quality certifications, waste discharge requirements, and conditional waivers of waste discharge requirements to accelerate approvals for projects that enhance the ability of a local or state agency to capture high precipitation events for local storage or recharge, consistent with water right priorities and protections for fish and wildlife. Exempts from CEQA actions taken by a state or local agency if the state agency with primary responsibility for the implementation of directives addressing impacts of drought concurs that local action is required, and permits that are necessary to carry out those actions, to accelerate approvals for projects that enhance the ability of a local or state agency to capture high precipitation events for local storage or recharge, consistent with water right priorities and protections for fish and wildlife. Exempts from CEQA a recharge project under the Department of Water Resources’ Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program and flood-managed aquifer recharge projects, occurring on open and working lands to replenish and store water in groundwater basins that will help mitigate groundwater conditions impacted by drought   Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 3/23/2023-Set for hearing April 11.    Staff: 

SB 675   (Limón)   Prescribed grazing: local assistance grant program: Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.     Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 3/1/2023-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 707   (Newman)   Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2023.   Creates a Responsible Textile Recovery Act to require producers to establish a stewardship program for collection and recycling of apparel and textiles that are unsuitable for reuse by a consumer.   Location: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 3/20/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 751   (Padilla)   Franchise agreements: labor impasse.   Prohibits a local government from entering into an exclusive franchise agreement for waste services, or an amended agreement, that contains a force majeure provision that can be triggered by a labor impasse.   Location: Senate Gov. & F.   Status: 3/21/2023-Set for hearing April 12.   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: Senate Public Safety   Status: 3/20/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB S.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 768   (Caballero)   California Environmental Quality Act: vehicle miles traveled: statement of overriding consideration.   States legislative intent to create a new transportation impact analysis for rural areas for purposes of the California Enivronmental Quality Act.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 3/22/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 794   (Niello)   California Environmental Quality Act: judicial challenge: identification of contributors: housing projects.   Requires a CEQA action brought to attack a commercial, housing, or public works projects that addresses longstanding critical needs and that results in an investment of at least $25 million to be resolved within 365 days of filing of the record of proceedings. Requires a CEQA plaintiff or petitioner to disclose the identity of persons and entities that contribute more than $100 towards litigation costs. Requires a plaintiff or petitioner to identify any pecuniary or economic interest related to any person who contributes more than $100 to the costs of the action.   Location: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 3/20/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 861   (Dahle)   California Environmental Quality Act: water conveyance or storage projects: judicial review.   Requires the Judicial Council to adopt rules of court applicable to actions or proceedings brought to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the certification or adoption of an environmental impact report for water conveyance or storage projects, or the granting of project approvals, including any appeals to the court of appeal or the Supreme Court, to be resolved within 270 days of the filing of the certified record of proceedings. Requires the lead agency to concurrently prepare the record of proceedings for a water conveyance or storage project.   Location: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 3/7/2023-Set for hearing March 29.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SBX1 2   (Skinner)   Energy: transportation fuels: supply and pricing: maximum gross gasoline refining margin.   Establishes a maximum gross gasoline refining margin at an unspecified amount per gallon and would authorize the Energy Commission to annually adjust the maximum gross gasoline refining margin. Authorizes the commission to petition the court to enjoin a refiner from exceeding the maximum gross gasoline refining margin. Authorizes the commission to assess an administrative civil penalty on a refiner for exceeding the maximum gross gasoline refining margin.   Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 3/23/2023-From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (March 23). Joint Rules suspended (Ayes 30. Noes 8.) Senate Rules suspended (Ayes 30. Noes 8.) Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 30. Noes 8.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. Article IV Section 8(b) of the Constitution Invoked. Joint Rule 37.4 suspended. Referred to Com. on U.& E.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)