On September 2nd, the California Senate passed AB 581 (Bennett, D-Ventura), which names the bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) as the official state shrub.
If signed by Governor Newsom, the bigberry manzanita will join the grizzly bear as the official state animal, gold as the state mineral, California golden chanterelle as the state mushroom, the west coast swing and square dance as the state dances, denim as the state fabric, and San Joaquin Soil as the state soil.
At the same time, the Legislature continues to grapple with how to address insurance and energy affordability even as they contemplate whether to provide California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) litigation relief to daycare centers located in residential areas, among other things.
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate John Kennedy.