RCRC members are encouraged to share letters addressed to state and federal representatives and regulatory bodies with RCRC’s Government Affairs staff. Click “Read More” to access information related to the current status of legislation impacting California’s rural counties.
July 17 is the legislative deadline for all Fiscal and Non-Fiscal Bills to be out of their second-house policy committees. Fiscal Bills are headed to Appropriations, while Non-Fiscal Bills will go to the Floor for a vote.
AB 243 (Wood) Medical Marijuana Cultivation: Assembly Bill 243 would address various factors concerning the cultivation of medical marijuana, including environmental health and enforcement issues. Status: AB 243 gained passage in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support if Amended
AB 266 (Bonta) Medical Marijuana: Assembly Bill 266 would establish a statewide regulatory, licensing, and enforcement framework for medical marijuana. Status: AB 266 awaits gained passage in both the Senate Health and Senate Governance and Finance Committees and awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support if Amended
AB 390 (Cooper): Criminal Law: DNA Evidence: Assembly Bill 390 would restore the ability of government officials to collect DNA samples from adult offenders convicted of offenses that were recently converted from felonies to misdemeanors. Status: AB 390 was granted reconsideration in the Senate Public Safety Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 453 (Bigelow): Groundwater Management. Assembly Bill 453 would allow an existing groundwater management plan to be amended until a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is adopted under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). AB 453 would also allow a local agency to impose fees and collect groundwater extraction information for developing and adopting a revised groundwater management plan. Status: Gained passage in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 896 (Wagner) Counties: Search or Rescue: Costs: Assembly Bill 896 would authorize a county to seek reimbursement for costs incurred for any extraordinary methods used in search and rescue operations from a resident within their jurisdiction. Status: AB 896 gained passage in Senate Governance and Finance Committee and awaits consideration on the Senate Floor. RCRC Position: Support
AB 1104 (Rodriguez) Search Warrants: Assembly Bill 1104 would clarify existing statute regarding the circumstances for issuing a search warrant for possession of a controlled substance. Status: AB 1104 was signed by the Governor. RCRC Position: Support
AB 1119 (Rendon) Public Utilities: Rights of Way: Assembly Bill 1119 would counties the same authority granted to cities to challenge a utility project located in the unincorporated portion of the county. Status: AB 1119 awaits final consideration on the Senate Floor. RCRC Position: Support
AB 1142 (Gray): Mining and Geology: Surface Mining. Assembly Bill 1142 would modify the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA). Status: Gained passage in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 1262 (Wood) Telecommunications: Universal Service: Assembly Bill 1262 would provide monies within the California Advanced Services Fund to support regional broadband deployment and expansion. Status: AB 1262 awaits final consideration on the Senate Floor. RCRC Position: Support
AB 1390 (Alejo): Groundwater: Adjudication. Assembly Bill 1390, as amended, would streamline procedures used in a legal action to obtain a basin-wide adjudication of groundwater rights. Among the issues of concern to counties include the due process questions raised by the utilization of property tax bills to provide legal notice to landowners, county liability from the use of the tax rolls, and county involvement in sending these legal notices in property tax bills. Status: Gained passage in the Senate Judiciary Committee. RCRC Position: Oppose Unless Amended
SB 209 (Pavley): Surface Mining: Inspections: Financial Assurances: Reclamation Plans. Senate Bill 209 would modify the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA). Status: Gained passage in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support if Amended
SB 239 (Hertzberg): Local Services: Contracts: Fire Protection Services. Senate Bill 239 would require a local agency to enter into a written agreement for the performance of new or extended services pursuant to a fire protection reorganization contract with each affected public agency and recognized fire protection employee organization prior to submitting to the local LAFCO a resolution of application and a plan for services. Status: Gained passage in the Assembly Local Government Committee as amended. RCRC Position: Oppose
SB 643 (McGuire) Medical Marijuana: Senate Bill 643 would establish a state regulatory and licensing framework for medical marijuana. Status: SB 643 gained passage in the Assembly Health Committee and awaits consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Pending