Jul 31, 2026

Advocacy   |   Community and Economic Development 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), supported Senate Bill 935 authored by Senator Steven Choi (R-Irvine), which was signed into law by Governor Newsom on July 16th. This measure will allow local governments

Jul 31, 2026

Advocacy   |   Agriculture Senate Agriculture Committee Plans Farm Bill Markup Next Week

This week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) stated that he expects to mark up the Senate Farm Bill by August 6

Jul 31, 2026

Advocacy   |   Community and Economic Development Senators Urge USDA to Reconsider Rural Development Reorganization

A group of twenty-two U.S. Senators led by Peter Welch (D-VT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is urging USDA to reconsider its proposed reorganization of the Rural Development

Jul 31, 2026

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Senate Committee Advances Padilla Water Recycling and Monterey Bay Study Bills

On July 29, 2026, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced, by voice vote, two bills introduced by Senator Alex Padilla

Jul 10, 2026

Advocacy   |   Community and Economic Development RCRC Advocates for Improved Wireless Reliability and Network Resiliency

RCRC member-county representatives were featured in a recent CPUC webinar, giving voice to rural perspectives. RCRC also continues to advocate for greater insight and action into telecom carriers’ Emergency Preparedness and Network Resiliency Plans.

Jul 10, 2026

Advocacy   |   Community and Economic Development NACo Encourages Counties to Request OMB Release Fiscal Analysis of New Proposal

The Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed rewriting 2 CFR Part 200, the Uniform Guidance and the section governing federal grants counties receives. NACo is encouraging counties to submit a comment to OMB

Jul 10, 2026

Advocacy   |   Health Care and Social Services WATCH NOW: CalHHS Updates on HR 1 Impacts on Medi-Cal, CalFresh and California's Rural Health Transformation Program

In a webinar on Thursday, July 9, CalHHS leadership provided an update on the latest efforts to address H.R. 1 impacts on safety-net programs in California and highlight recent guidance. View the  H.R. 1 Update HERE.

Earlier in July, CalHHS leadership provide a briefing on California’s Rural Health Transformation Program, including recent updates and implementation efforts. The briefing is available HERE.

Jul 01, 2026

Advocacy RCRC Highlights of Recent State Budget Actions

Over the final days of June, the Legislature acted upon several budget trailer bills before the start of the 2026-27 fiscal year, July 1. While several issues have been addressed by these latest actions, several others remain unresolved and budget negotiations are expected to continue. RCRC has compiled several key highlights of the latest budget actions that impact California’s rural counties. To read RCRC’s July 1, 2026 edition of the State Budget Packet Highlights see HERE.

Jul 01, 2026

Advocacy   |   Community and Economic Development HCD Publishes Tool for Cities and Counties Subject to Streamline Housing Approvals

On Wednesday, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced that the Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process (SMAP) Dashboard is now displaying an updated list of the California cities and counties that are subject to

Jul 01, 2026

Advocacy   |   Community and Economic Development Connect the Valley Launches Digital Inclusion Resource Library

Connect the Valley (CtV) announced the launch of a new online resource on Tuesday that will serve as a centralized hub designed to help residents access nearby digital inclusion tools across multiple counties.