Mar 07, 2025

Advocacy   |   CEQA/NEPA Governor Waives CEQA and Coastal Act for Authorized Fuel Management Projects While Legislators Introduce Multiple Bills Aimed at Long-Lasting Regulatory Relief

On March 1, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a wildfire-related state of emergency to reduce regulatory barriers for wildfire risk reduction and community protection projects

Mar 07, 2025

Advocacy   |   Public Safety and Emergency Management Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act Introduced in U.S. House

On March 5, Congress Members Doug LaMalfa (R-Butte), Mike Thompson (D-Napa), Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), and Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) introduced the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act

Mar 07, 2025

Advocacy   |   Agriculture Secretary Rollins Previews Her Vision for Restoring Rural Prosperity at NACo

On March 4, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins delivered remarks to hundreds of local leaders at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington DC…

Mar 07, 2025

Advocacy   |   Solid Waste Management Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 501 (Allen) - Household Hazardous Waste Producer Responsibility

RCRC is co-sponsoring Senate Bill 501, authored by Senator Benjamin Allen (D-Santa Monica) with the National Stewardship Action Council.  This measure establishes an extended producer responsibility program for manufacturers of certain types of products that become household hazardous wastes…

Mar 07, 2025

Advocacy RCRC Delegation Visits Washington D.C

Last week, RCRC delegates engaged in productive discussions in Washington D.C. as they met with Congress Members and Federal Agency leaders on Capitol Hill, to raise awareness of challenges and opportunities in California’s rural communities…

Feb 28, 2025

Advocacy   |   Energy CPUC Discusses Reliability Thresholds and Reporting Improvements on Power Outages

On Friday, February 21st, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held an all-day workshop to consider changes to existing policies regarding the safety and reliability of electrical distribution systems. Factors such as

Feb 28, 2025

Advocacy   |   Community and Economic Development Governor Announces New Local Accountability Measures & Website

On Monday, Governor Newsom announced accountability measures for local jurisdictions to demonstrate results to continue receiving state homelessness funding

Feb 28, 2025

Advocacy Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats Inquire About USDA Layoffs

On 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 Affordability

On 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 Account

RCRC 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…