Jan 16, 2026
Advocacy | Health Care and Social Services White House Unveils Health Care Affordability FrameworkOn January 15, the White House released a fact sheet outlining an affordability framework, dubbed the “Great Healthcare Plan”, which aims to lower prescription drug prices and insurance premiums without extending the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expired tax credits. The plan calls on Congress to
Jan 09, 2026
Advocacy RCRC’s Rural Rundown of Governor Newsom’s 2026-27 Proposed BudgetOn Friday, January 9th, Governor Newsom released his Administration’s 2026-27 Proposed Budget. This proposal begins the budget development process between the Governor and Legislature, whereby lawmakers must pass a budget by June 15th for the July 1st start of the...
Jan 08, 2026
Advocacy | CEQA/NEPA Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 299 (Cabaldon) – CEQA Exemption for Day Care CentersRCRC supports Senate Bill 299, authored by Senator Christopher Cabaldon (D-Yolo). On January 5, Senator Cabaldon amended Senate Bill 299 to exempt residential day care centers from the California Environmental Quality Act.
Jan 08, 2026
Advocacy Governor Delivers Final State of the State AddressOn Thursday, January 8th, Governor Newsom appeared before a joint session of the State Senate and Assembly for the first time since 2020 to deliver his final State of the State address before his time in office concludes next year
Jan 08, 2026
Advocacy | Air Quality CNRA Announces First 30x30 Webinars of 2026On Tuesday, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) announced two webinars to highlight their efforts on the state’s 30×30 conservation policy
Jan 08, 2026
Advocacy | Energy House Approves SPEED Act, Setting Up Senate TalksOn December 18, the House passed the SPEED Act (H.R. 4776) in a 221–196 vote, marking the first major permitting reform vote of the Congress and setting up a high-stakes Senate negotiation in 2026.
Jan 08, 2026
Advocacy | Water and Wildlife House of Representatives Advances Bill to Delist Gray WolfOn December 18, the House of Representatives passed the Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845), which would remove the gray wolf from protections under the Endangered Species Act and return wildlife management authority to the states
Dec 19, 2025
Advocacy | Public Safety and Emergency Management Joint Local Governments Submit Comments on Wildfire Liability, Insurance Accessibility, and Strategies to Reduce Wildfire RiskOn December 12, RCRC, CSAC, and the League of Cities jointly responded to a solicitation from California Earthquake Authority seeking stakeholder input on a variety of topics related to the accessibility and affordability of
Dec 19, 2025
Advocacy | Forest and Public Lands Stewardship U.S. Senators Introduce Bill to Protect and Restore Over 1.7 Million Acres of California Public LandsOn December 17, California’s U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff announced the reintroduction of a sweeping public lands package. The Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act would protect and restore
Dec 19, 2025
Advocacy | Public Safety and Emergency Management Bipartisan Wildfire Bill Would Expand Federal Support for Post-Fire CleanupOn December 16, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Post-Wildfire Environmental Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow the federal government to help pay for hazardous debris cleanup following wildfires, even when damage does not meet the threshold for a major disaster declaration