Barbed Wire – April 4, 2025

The weekly newsletter of RCRC and your source for legislative and regulatory news impacting California’s rural counties.

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State to Increase Gray Wolf Management Efforts

Earlier this week, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced increased efforts to manage the state’s gray wolf population, which has become robust and increasingly problematic…

pen writing a letter

Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 496 (Hurtado) – Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation: Appeals Advisory Committee: Exemptions

RCRC is sponsoring Senate Bill 496, authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield), This measure creates additional pathways for local agency fleets to receive necessary exemptions under the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations. To assist our advocacy efforts, RCRC requests that counties send letters of support…

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Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025 Introduced in U.S. Senate

This week, Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Tina Smith (D-MN) reintroduced the Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025 (one-pager | full text). This measure is designed to modernize Rural Housing Service programs…

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Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act Reintroduced in the House

On April 2, U.S. Representatives David Valadao (R-Kings County) and Salud Carbajal (D-San Luis Obispo County) reintroduced the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act. This bipartisan legislation

An upward-angle view of the capitol building in Washington D.C.

Public Land Use for Housing a Key Issue in Nomination Hearing for DOI Deputy Secretary Pick Katherine MacGregor

On April 2, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Katherine MacGregor for the role of Deputy Secretary of the Interior. During the hearing

Bulletin Board

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of rural county importance.

Keeping Up

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

Trista H. Woessner-Gonzalez, of Granite Bay, has been appointed Director of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, where she has served in several roles including as Chief Deputy Director since 2021 and as Chief of the Tax Policy Bureau from 2016 to 2021. Woessner-Gonzalez held several positions at the California State Board of Equalization from 1992 to 2016, including CROS Business Project Manager, Procurement Manager, Audit and Information Section Supervisor, Tax Policy Division Technical Advisor, Audit Support Unit Supervisor, Audit Support Specialist, Audit Reviewer, and Sales and Use Tax Auditor. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Chico. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $226,092. Woessner-Gonzalez is a Democrat.

Weekly News Clips

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.

Trinity County urges Congress to renew Secure Rural Schools funding – KRCR

Trinity County officials are sounding the alarm over the potential expiration of the Secure Rural Schools Program funding, which could result in a loss of over $3 million for essential services such as road maintenance, law enforcement and education.

A broken system is keeping California homes underinsured. Millions are at risk – San Francisco Chronicle

Mike Kubo had found only enough time to grab a few bags of dirty laundry when he and his family evacuated their home after hundreds of lightning bolts set the Santa Cruz Mountains ablaze.

In rural Northern California, residents are bracing for federal cuts – CalMatters

Rural counties are some of the most reliant on federal funding and federal workers. But some still welcome Trump’s upcoming cuts to forestry and other departments

Legislative Update

Information related to the current status of legislation impacting California’s rural counties. This report updates in real time.

For a full list of RCRC-tracked legislation, by issue area, use our Legislative Tracking Tool.