Jun 20, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal budget U.S. Senate Reconciliation Proposal Caps Provider Taxes, Threatening Rural Hospital Finances

On June 14, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee released the text and section-by-section summary of its reconciliation proposal. The proposal includes Medicaid cuts that are significantly deeper

Jun 20, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Board Member Spotlight RCRC Board Member Spotlight: Rex Bohn (Humboldt County) – Executive Committee Member

RCRC is pleased to introduce the subject of the June 2025 Board Member Spotlight, Humboldt County Supervisor and RCRC Executive Committee Member, Rex Bohn

Jun 20, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Keeping Up Keeping Up - The Barbed Wire - June 20, 2025

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Marta Barlow, of El Dorado Hills, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the Office of the Inspector General. Barlow has been an Attorney IV...

Jun 20, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Weekly News Clips Weekly News Clips - The Barbed Wire - June 20, 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 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