Mar 13, 2026

Advocacy   |   Health Care and Social Services Governor Newsom Announces Additional Homelessness and Behavioral Health Grant Awards

On Wednesday March 11th, Governor Newsom announced round two of Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) awards, totaling $1.2 billion to fund an additional 66 projects across 130 behavioral health facilities.

Mar 13, 2026

Advocacy   |   County Operations Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 935 (Choi) - Local agency design-build projects: authorization

RCRC, in coalition with the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the League of California Cities (CalCities), is supporting Senate Bill 935 authored by Senator Steven Choi (R-Irvine). This measure seeks to allow local governments to continue to use the Design-Build (DB) procurement process for qualifying public works projects. 

Mar 13, 2026

Advocacy   |   Community and Economic Development US Senate Passes 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, combining elements of existing House and Senate Housing packages

On Thursday March 12, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a vote of 89-10. The bill combines the Senate’s ROAD to Housing Act (S. 2651) from last year with elements of the Housing for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 6644) which previously passed the House. 

Mar 13, 2026

Advocacy   |   Public Safety and Emergency Management Rep. Fong Re-Introduces Bill Supporting Wildfire Victims in Honor of Doug LaMalfa

Last week, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) introduced the Doug LaMalfa Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Extension Act. Re-introduced in memorial to the late Mr. LaMalfa, this bill would exempt wildfire relief payments made...

Mar 13, 2026

Advocacy   |   Agriculture Farm Bill Path Uncertain as Senate Weighs House Framework

The farm bill continues to face an unclear road forward, even as the House Agriculture Committee voted 34-17 on March 5 to advance a new five-year bill.

Mar 06, 2026

Advocacy RCRC Hosts Gubernatorial Candidates for Candid Conversations about Rural California

Since November of 2025, RCRC has hosted six of the major Gubernatorial candidates in a series of policy-focused meet and greets with representatives from RCRC’s Board of Directors, to discuss the unique issues that rural counties face.

Mar 06, 2026

Advocacy   |   Solid Waste Management Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 2667 (Hadwick) - Vapes

On February 20, Assembly Member Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas) introduced RCRC-sponsored Assembly Bill 2667 regarding vapes. AB 2667 seeks to protect

Mar 06, 2026

Advocacy House Agriculture Committee Votes to Advance 2026 Farm Bill

On March 4, the House Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 out of committee (H.R. 7567) by a 34–17 vote following two days of markup and debate

Mar 06, 2026

Forest and Public Lands Stewardship Congress Members Urge Interior to Develop Reforestation Strategy for Public Lands

On March 3, California Representative Doris Matsui (D-West Sacramento) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the growing reforestation backlog

Feb 27, 2026

Advocacy RCRC Visits Washington D.C.

Last week, the RCRC Officers visited Washington D.C. to meet with congressional offices and federal agency leaders on Capitol Hill, to discuss a number of challenges and opportunities in California’s rural communities. Although members of Congress were on recess, the RCRC delegation met with a variety of staff and leaders who play a key role in the development and enactment of policies impacting California rural counties