Apr 25, 2025

Advocacy USDA Announces Disaster Assistance Funding Available to Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters

On April 22, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced $340.6 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster assistance to deliver relief to farmers, ranchers and rural communities impacted by natural disasters

Apr 25, 2025

Advocacy Congress Members Urge FEMA to Restore BRIC Grant Program

Last week, Representatives Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and Seth Moulton (D-MA) led a letter with 26 other representatives opposing FEMA’s decision to terminate funding under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and urging

Apr 25, 2025

Advocacy   |   Energy DOI Implements Emergency Permitting Procedures to Strengthen Domestic Energy Supply

In response to President Trump’s declaration of a National Energy Emergency, the U.S. Department of the Interior will implement emergency permitting procedures to accelerate the development of domestic energy resources and critical minerals. These measures are designed

Apr 25, 2025

Advocacy   |   Energy Senate Energy Affordability Proposal Extends and Expands Energy Commission’s AB 205 Opt-In Permitting Program that Bypasses Local Permitting Processes

This week, the Senate announced a legislative package intended to increase affordability related to energy, housing, and workforce.  Amendments to the energy bill, Senate Bill 254 (Becker, D-Menlo Park), make a number of changes to address permitting challenges and affordability, but also make several significant changes to the Energy Commission’s AB 205 opt-in permitting program

Apr 25, 2025

Advocacy   |   County Operations Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 1383 (McKinnor) - Public Employees’ Retirement Benefits

In coalition with local government and public agency partners, RCRC opposes Assembly Bill 1383, authored by Assembly Member Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood). This measure would make several significant changes to the public employees’ retirement benefits, increasing pension liability for public agencies

Apr 25, 2025

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Fish and Game Committee to Consider Coyote Hunting Limits at May Meeting

The Wildlife Resources Committee, a subcommittee of the California Fish and Game Commission, is set to consider a proposal that would place coyotes under a bag limit

Apr 11, 2025

Advocacy RCRC to Host Webinar May 5: SMGB Mining Ordinance Update Project

Join RCRC and the State Mining and Geology Board (SMGB) on May 5^th at 10:00 AM for an informative webinar on the statewide effort to update local mining ordinances

Apr 11, 2025

Advocacy   |   Public Safety and Emergency Management Bipartisan Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate to Create New Disaster Resilience Tax Credit for Communities Impacted by Natural Disasters

On April 8, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced the Facilitating Increased Resilience, Environmental Weatherization and Lowered Liability (FIREWALL) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at promoting community resilience

Apr 11, 2025

Advocacy U.S. Senate Advances Wildlife Service and EPA Water Office Nominees

On Wednesday, April 9, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to advance two nominees to the full Senate for consideration

Apr 11, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Update

RCRC continues to advocate for passage of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization bill, a top priority for rural counties in California and around the nation.  The last SRS reauthorization