Oct 16, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues   |   SRS Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program Through Fiscal Year 2029

On September 30, 2026, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2026 (S. 5608), to extend the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, through fiscal year (FY) 2029. The SRS program expired on September 30, 2026

Oct 16, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues CMS Releases First Rural Health Transformation Program Obligated Funds Report

On October 9, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its first report on state obligations under the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. California obligated the largest dollar amount of any state

Oct 02, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Trump Administration Derails RCRC-Supported Law Meant to Significantly Reduce Local Hazardous Waste Management Costs

On September 8, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHSMA) announced that it determined “California’s radical ban on single-use propane cylinders [was] unlawful.” Senate Bill 1280 (Laird) of 2024 would have

Oct 02, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues U.S. Senate Passes Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act to Address Air Quality Treatment of Prescribed Fire

On September 29, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA) of 2026, sponsored by California Senator Alex Padilla. The bill advanced unanimously

Oct 02, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues U.S. Senate Unveils Bipartisan Bill to Revise ESA Species Recovery Framework

On September 30, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), unveiled the Improving Species Recovery Act The measure would change how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service carries out recovery

Sep 18, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Senate Agriculture Committee Advances the Farm Bill

On September 16, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a markup on the Agricultural Act of 2026. The bill

Sep 18, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues House Passes Water Resources Development Act, Senate Advances Competing Measure

On September 16, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (H.R. 9497), by a vote of 415-9. The bill now moves to the Senate, which is considering its own

Sep 11, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congress Member Jim Costa a Leading Contender for Ranking House Agriculture Committee Seat

The House Agriculture Committee is drawing the attention of Democrats who are considering bids to become the party’s top member of the Committee, after the current Ranking Member leaves Congress at the end of her term

Sep 04, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congress Passes Short-Term Funding Bill, Delays Hemp THC Restrictions

Congress passed a continuing resolution on September 1, 2026, funding the federal government through December 11. Along with that, they are delaying the implementation of restrictions on hemp-derived THC products that had been scheduled to take effect November 12.

Sep 04, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues House Agriculture Chair Seeks Waiver of GOP Term Limit

House Agriculture Committee Chair, G.T. Thompson (R-PA), is seeking a waiver from House GOP leadership to continue serving as the panel’s top Republican next year, despite being term-limited under conference rules that cap members at three terms leading a committee.