Sep 25, 2025
Forest and Public Lands Stewardship USDA Awards Grants to Community Fire Resilience ProjectsOn Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $200 million in grant funding for 58 community wildfire resilience projects across the nation. This funding includes nearly $25 million
Sep 25, 2025
Water and Wildlife Congressman Fong Introduces Water Infrastructure Resiliency ActThis week, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-Bakersfield) introduced the Water Infrastructure Resiliency Act (H.R. 5513), in partnership with Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01). This bipartisan bill aims to empower communities to
Sep 12, 2025
Advocacy Like the Energizer Bunny, the Legislature Keeps Going and Going and Going…The end of session is always chaotic in California’s Legislature: every year seems to bring a slightly different flavor of chaos
Sep 12, 2025
Advocacy | County Operations Call to Action: Urge Governor Newsom to Veto Assembly Bill 339Assembly Bill 339, which would undermine local agencies’ efforts to provide programs and services to the public by requiring new, time-consuming, and costly administrative requirements, has advanced to the Governor’s Desk. RCRC requests that counties submit a letter to Governor Newsom urging him to veto this bill.
Sep 12, 2025
Advocacy | Air Quality State Legislature Unveils Plans for Cap-and-Trade Extension, AllocationsOn Wednesday, the California State Legislature released language outlining a proposed deal with the Administration to extend, rename, and allocate funds derived from the state’s Cap-and-Trade program. The proposal is a result of negotiations
Sep 12, 2025
Advocacy | CEQA/NEPA Legislature Makes Significant Changes to Ease Implementation of Last Year’s AB 98 Warehouse Permitting LegislationThe Legislature is poised to make significant changes to last year’s Assembly Bill 98 warehouse permitting legislation. Last year, the Legislature enacted AB 98 (Carrillo) that imposed design standards, permitting requirements, and location restrictions on an extremely broad universe
Sep 12, 2025
Advocacy | Energy Wildfire Fund Bill Includes Disturbing Provision Increasing California Energy Commission Authority to Bypass Local LawsSenate Bill 254 (Becker) is billed as a measure to save ratepayers money and expedite clean energy permitting; however, a few provisions buried in the 231-page bill will invest even greater power in the California Energy Commission
Sep 12, 2025
Advocacy | Solid Waste Management RCRC’s Rural CUPA Reimbursement Bill Heads to Governor NewsomAssembly Bill 993 (Hadwick), co-sponsored by RCRC and the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators, has passed the Legislature and awaits consideration by Governor Newsom. AB 993 expands eligibility for CalEPA’s Rural Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) Reimbursement program
Sep 12, 2025
Advocacy | Community and Economic Development CPUC Adopts Decision Implementing CA LifeLine Pilot Program for BroadbandOn August 28, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted a decision implementing a California LifeLine pilot program for home broadband. The three-year
Sep 12, 2025
Advocacy | Forest and Public Lands Stewardship DOI Proposes to Rescind Public Lands RuleOn September 10, the Department of the Interior announced that it is proposing to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule