Feb 28, 2025
Advocacy Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats Inquire About USDA LayoffsOn February 25, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and all Committee Democrats in a letter asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for detail about recent mass layoffs
Feb 28, 2025
Advocacy | Energy Little Hoover Commission Begins Hearings on Energy AffordabilityOn Thursday, February 27th, the Little Hoover Commission conducted the first of several hearings on electricity costs. At the hearing, Severin Borenstein from UC Berkeley and Matthew Freedman from The Utility Reform Network were joined by RCRC’s John Kennedy and Leigh Kammerich to discuss the state’s rising energy costs, the factors influencing those increases, and a range of potential legislative and regulatory solutions.
Feb 28, 2025
Advocacy | Solid Waste Management Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 993 (Hadwick) - Rural CUPA Reimbursement AccountRCRC is co-sponsoring Assembly Bill 993, authored by Assembly Member Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas) with the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (on behalf of the CUPA Forum). This measure would expand eligibility for…
Feb 21, 2025
Advocacy | Transportation U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy Announces Review of California High-Speed Rail ProjectOn February 20, at the direction of Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) initiated a review of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA)…
Feb 21, 2025
Advocacy | Forest and Public Lands Stewardship Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Promote Wildfire Mitigation Through Wildlife GrazingOn February 13, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mazie Hirono (D-HI, and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act (S. 602), bipartisan legislation to promote research on how...
Feb 21, 2025
Advocacy | Forest and Public Lands Stewardship Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act Introduced in 119th CongressThe Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act (S. 356/H.R. 1383) has been introduced in the 119th Congress amid pressure to act swiftly to avoid significant budget cuts or tax hikes. Attempts to pass SRS legislation...
Feb 21, 2025
Advocacy | Solid Waste Management CalRecycle Illegal Dumping Emergency Regulations Approved by OALOn February 14, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved Emergency Regulations adopted by CalRecycle concerning illegal dumping and land application of solid and organic waste. CalRecycle’s regulations are intended to stop illegal and improper...
Feb 21, 2025
Advocacy | Community and Economic Development CPUC Announces Upcoming Public Participation Hearings Impacting Landline Phone ServiceIn coming months, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold in-person and virtual public forums to receive customer input regarding its Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) Proceeding. The COLR proceeding will consider updates and...
Feb 21, 2025
Advocacy | County Operations Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 632 (Hart) – Local Ordinances: Administrative Fines or PenaltiesRCRC is sponsoring Assembly Bill 632, authored by Assembly Member Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara). This measure would enhance local enforcement mechanisms for unlicensed cannabis activities, state housing law violations, and fire hazards by codifying existing caselaw regarding collection of administrative penalties through (ordinary priority) property liens and providing enhanced tools for collection of penalties associated with certain serious code violations.
Counties and cities are currently authorized…
Feb 21, 2025
Advocacy | Community and Economic Development Call for Support Letters for Assembly Bill 240 (Alanis) - Community Colleges StudyRCRC-sponsored bill, AB 240 (Alanis) is heading to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education on March 18. RCRC is asking for support letters from our counties to help bolster our advocacy efforts. Letters are due by Wednesday, March 12th at 5:00 p.m.