Feb 21, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Bill of the Week Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 632 (Hart) – Local Ordinances: Administrative Fines or Penalties

RCRC is sponsoring Assembly Bill 632, authored by Assembly Member Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara). This measure would enhance local enforcement mechanisms for unlicensed cannabis activities, state housing law violations, and fire hazards by codifying existing caselaw regarding collection of administrative penalties through (ordinary priority) property liens and providing enhanced tools for collection of penalties associated with certain serious code violations. 

Counties and cities are currently authorized…

Feb 21, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Bill of the Week Call for Support Letters for Assembly Bill 240 (Alanis) - Community Colleges Study

RCRC-sponsored bill, AB 240 (Alanis) is heading to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education on March 18. RCRC is asking for support letters from our counties to help bolster our advocacy efforts. Letters are due by Wednesday, March 12th at 5:00 p.m.

Feb 14, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   telecommunications Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 470 (McKinnor) - Telecommunications

On February 6th, Assembly Bill 470 was introduced by Assemblymember McKinnor (D-Inglewood). This measure is intended to make changes to the Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) rules in California. AT&T, sponsor of the legislation, indicates...

Feb 14, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congress Members LaMalfa and Thompson Introduce Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2025

This week, Congressmen Doug LaMalfa (R-Butte) and Mike Thompson (D-Lake) introduced the  Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2025 to provide homeowners in disaster-prone regions with incentives to harden their properties against wildfires and other...

Feb 14, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues U.S. Senators Urge Trump Administration to Exempt Seasonal Firefighters from Federal Hiring Freeze

On February 11, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) joined Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and 13 others in urging senior Trump Administration officials to reverse the hiring and onboarding freeze of federal seasonal firefighters that threatens the safety...

Feb 14, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal appointments U.S. Senate Confirms Brooke Rollins to Lead USDA

On Thursday, February 13, the U.S. Senate confirmed Brooke Rollins to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture by a vote of 72-28. As Secretary, Ms. Rollins will oversee farm subsidy programs, the distribution of nutrition...

Jan 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal appointments USDA Announces Key Slate of Presidential Appointments

On Tuesday, January 21, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced appointments for several senior staff positions. Those appointments include:  Kailee Tkacz Buller Appointed as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture  Preston Parry...

Jan 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Federal Advocacy   |   Fix Our Forests Act Fix Our Forests Act Heads to U.S. Senate

The Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471), passed the U.S. House of Representatives on January 23, 2025, with a bipartisan vote of 279-141. This legislation, sponsored by House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Representative Scott...

Jan 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congress Introduces Variety of Bipartisan Measures to Strengthen Wildfire Resilience and Recovery

In the wake of, and continuing battle with, the Los Angeles fires, several pieces of bipartisan legislation have been introduced, or reintroduced, in efforts to strengthen Wildfire Resilience and Recovery.  On January 17, Sen. Alex...

Jan 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Bill of the Week   |   homeowners insurance Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 1 (Connolly) – Residential Property Insurance: Wildfire Risk

RCRC supports Assembly Bill 1, authored by Assembly Member Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael). The measure would require the California Department of Insurance (CDI) to identify and consider additional property-level and community-wide wildfire mitigation measures to...