Win a few, lose a few but, overall, most folks were just glad the legislative session is over! The Governor’s last-minute push on a variety of climate and related measures, while not an elegant discussion, generally ended with the measures he was looking for on his desk. Perhaps the “highest drama” surrounded AB 1577, a measure that would allow legislative staff to unionize. During a good bit of back and forth (largely behind the scenes), the measure was ultimately held (failed) in the Assembly policy committee. Hard feelings ensued between members, with legislative staff in attendance walking out as a sign of their discontent. Another “drama point” of the evening was the discussion surrounding the Diablo Canyon power plant and the extension of its life online. Ultimately passing both Houses early in the morning on September 1, visions of electrical supply disruptions à la those that occurred under the watch of Governor Gray Davis were brought to bear, with one member going so far as to note that with Democrats in charge, any failure to keep the lights on would land squarely in their lap. 

The Legislature will return for the start of the 2023-2024 legislative session on January 3, 2023; although, they will also return on December 5, 2022, to swear in new members and address related “housekeeping” matters. In the meantime, several bills are on the Governor’s desk awaiting action. Below is a list of legislation for which RCRC has requested signature or veto by the Governor so far (Go to List). 

In the final hours of the legislative session, the Legislature passed a variety of budget bills and trailer bills, developing details around funding for energy, wildfire, and drought funding. These bills are now headed to the desk of Governor Newsom for consideration, where they are expected to be signed into law. RCRC's Rural Rundown, which includes additional detail as provided by our friends at Hurst Brooks Espinoza, highlights several items of particular note to RCRC member counties. 

The final 2022-23 Budget Package includes several noteworthy items, including: 

  • Identifies one-time CARE Court implementation/start-up funding for counties.
  • Significant funding was provided for solid waste management and recycling. 
  • Major support for energy infrastructure projects. 
  • Several broad allocations to the state’s Nature-Based Solutions initiatives, which include the 2021 State Adaptation Strategy, 2022 Scoping Plan, Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, Strategic Plan to Protect California’s Coast and Ocean and Water Resilience Portfolio. 
  • Robust additional allocations to CAL FIRE for local fire prevention grants and other local fire mitigation assistance, funding for the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program, and important provisions to extend CEQA exemptions for projects on USDA Forest Service lands done under Good Neighbor Authority or stewardship agreements with state or local agencies that have already undergone the NEPA process. 

For RCRC’s Rural Rundown summary of the final 2022-23 Budget Package  see here. 

 

RCRC REQUEST FOR SIGNATURE OR VETO ON LEGISLATION