Jun 13, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   state budget Legislature Sends Budget to Governor's Desk Ahead of June 15th Deadline

On Friday, June 13, both houses of the Legislature passed the Budget Act of 2025 (Senate Bill 101), on a largely party line vote, following approximately four hours of floor discussion. The Budget Act now proceeds to the Governor’s desk for action. RCRC has prepared some key highlights of the 2025-26 Budget Package, by topic area, that may be of interest to California’s rural counties. View the highlights here.

To view RCRC’s earlier highlights of the Governor’s May Revise, find the Rural Rundown here. 

Jun 13, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Bill of the Week Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 690 (Schultz) - Criminal Procedure: Indigent Defense Compensation

RCRC, in coalition with our county partners, strongly opposes Assembly Bill 690, authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank). This measure would create additional mandates for the provision of indigent defense services, resulting in increased cost pressures to counties statewide estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.  

Jun 13, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   SB 54 RCRC Comments on New Round of CalRecycle Packaging Regulations

On May 16th, CalRecycle released revised draft regulations  implementing Senate Bill 54 (Allen, 2022) related to single use packaging and food service ware.  RCRC provided extensive comments on CalRecycle’s previous

Jun 13, 2025

Barbed Wire State Launches Pilot Effort on Gray Wolf Management

Earlier this week, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced a pilot effort in partnership with federal and local agencies to combat livestock depredations by gray wolves in

Jun 13, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues California Congressmen Introduce Valley Water Protection Act

On June 11, Congressman Adam Gray (D-Merced) introduced the Valley Water Protection Act, which would ensure Central Valley farmers and producers receive reliable water deliveries to support their operations. The Act would amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to protect impacted farmers from

Jun 13, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal appointments   |   federal issues U.S. Senate Confirms Stephen Vaden as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture

On Tuesday June 10, in a 51-44 vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Stephen Vaden to serve as Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. In this role, Mr. Vaden will oversee

Jun 13, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Weekly News Clips Weekly News Clips - The Barbed Wire - June 13, 2025

RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications.

Jun 06, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   grants CalAssist Mortgage Fund Established to Provide Grants to Homeowners Impacted by Recent Disasters

On June 5th, Governor Newsom announced the CalAssist Mortgage Fund, which will be launching on June 12th to provide grants up to $20,000 to homeowners whose homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable in recent fires, floods, and other disasters. This new disaster mortgage relief program

Jun 06, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Bill of the Week Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 1337 (Ward) - Information Practices Act of 1977

RCRC, along with a coalition of other public agency stakeholders, strongly opposes Assembly Bill 1337, authored by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego). This measure would impose significant costs and liability on state and local governments and jeopardize essential service delivery

Jun 06, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Transportation Secretary Releases Report Finding No Viable Path Forward for California High-Speed Rail Project

One June 4, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy released the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Compliance Review Report, which found that the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA)’s high speed rail project is in default of the terms of its federal grant awards. The detailed report