Dec 13, 2024

Advocacy Adam Schiff Sworn in as California's Newest U.S. Senator

On Monday, December 9, former U.S. Representative Adam Schiff was sworn in as California’s newest U.S. Senator. Senator Schiff replaces Senator Laphonza Butler, who was appointed in September 2023 to complete the term of the...

Dec 13, 2024

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship State Finalizes New Property Insurance Ratemaking Regulations

On December 13th, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that the State had approved the final version of his proposed regulations on catastrophe modeling for insurance ratemaking, which are now in effect. The new regulations,...

Dec 13, 2024

Advocacy   |   Solid Waste Management RCRC Discusses Challenges of Household Hazardous Waste Management at National Product Manufacturers’ Convention

On December 9th, RCRC’s John Kennedy was invited to discuss the costs and challenges of managing household hazardous waste (HHW) at the Household and Commercial Product Association’s annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Local governments...

Dec 13, 2024

Advocacy   |   Public Safety and Emergency Management DOI Local Government Wildfire Vehicle Conversion Grants Now Available

On December 4th, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced $20 million in available grant funds for local governments to strengthen their response to wildfire by converting vehicles to wildland fire engines. The funding...

Dec 13, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife U.S. House Approves Water Resources Development Act

On December 10, 2024, the House approved, by a vote of 399-18, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (S. 4367), which would improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship California Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Q&A

What is PILT? Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) was established in 1949 to offset adverse impacts to county property tax revenues that result when the State acquires private property for wildlife management areas. How...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife SGMA Implementation

Groundwater management law in California previously authorized certain local agencies to adopt and implement a groundwater management plan.  Local agencies seeking state funds from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for groundwater projects and groundwater...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Secure Rural Schools

Adopted in 1906, federal law requires the U.S. Forest Service to provide counties and schools with 25 percent of the revenues generated on federal forest lands from a variety of activities including timber harvesting, mining,...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Endangered Species Act (ESA)

The Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) was passed by Congress in 1973 to protect and recover at risk species and the ecosystems upon which they depend.  In 1984, California followed when the Legislature passed the...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Wildlife Policy Areas Affecting Local Government

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are the two primary agencies responsible for fish and wildlife issues impacting rural counties and their citizens. Some of...