The Barbed Wire - May 3, 2024

May 3, 2024
RCRC Submits Comments on CalRecycle Beverage Container Recycling Regulations
Bill of the Week – Assembly Bill 2557 (Ortega) and Assembly Bill 2489 (Ward): Contracting by Local Agencies
California Water Commission Meeting, May 15
Farm Bill Frameworks Clash in Congress Ahead of Deadline
U.S. Senators Urge Affordable Connectivity Program Providers to Support Households by Bridging Funding Gap
BULLETIN BOARD
WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC Submits Comments on CalRecycle Beverage Container Recycling Regulations

On April 30, RCRC submitted comments to CalRecycle on proposed regulations that seek to increase consumer access to redemption opportunities.   

SB 1013 (Atkins,2022) made significant changes to the state’s beverage container recycling law, including adding wine containers to the program.  SB 1013 also repealed the ability for retailers to pay a $100/day in lieu fee to CalRecycle to avoid having to redeem beverage containers in the store.  Under the new law, beverage container “dealers” must either redeem containers in store or join a dealer cooperative that will redeem containers.  This part of the law was intended to significantly increase consumer access to redemption opportunities while providing “dealers” a way to avoid having to redeem containers in the store. 

CalRecycle released draft regulations for a 45-day comment period on March 15.  RCRC has expressed serious concerns that the proposed regulations may actually increase consumer confusion and frustration as well as decrease consumer participation. 

The proposed regulations require each dealer cooperative to include at least one reverse vending machine, bag drop off, or pickup program, but without the operational requirements that currently exist for similar technologies outside of the dealer cooperative setting.  Even more troubling, the proposed regulations absolve these redemption locations from having to redeem all types of beverage containers.  Under existing law and SB 1013, at least one location in each convenience zone must redeem all empty beverage containers, but the regulations appear to directly conflict with this requirement.  As structured, the draft regulations would allow one location to take only glass containers, another to take only plastic containers, and another to take only metal containers.  Under this framework, consumers may have to visit two or more different redemption locations to redeem all their empty beverage containers. 

The proposed regulations also allow dealer cooperatives to limit the number of containers that an individual may redeem in a single day.  Given the cost of gas and distance consumers must travel to redemption locations, this could erode a consumer’s ability to get any of his or her deposits back. 

RCRC has suggested modifications to address both of these concerns.  SB 1013 and the proposed regulations provide a great opportunity to increase redemption opportunities and facilitate more holistic drop-off recycling programs; however, the details matter. 

For more information, please contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy

Bill of the Week – Assembly Bill 2557 (Ortega) and Assembly Bill 2489 (Ward): Contracting by Local Agencies

RCRC, along with a broad coalition of local government associations, opposes Assembly Bill 2557 (Ortega) and Assembly Bill 2489 (Ward), two measures relating to contracting by local agencies. As with previous legislative efforts that attempted to curb local agency authority for contracting, our organizations believe the proposals contained in AB 2557 and AB 2489 are overly burdensome and inflexible, resulting in   unacceptable outcomes for vulnerable communities and diminished local services for our residents.  

These measures would apply to over 4800 local agencies in the state, most of which rely – at least in part – on contractors to provide a variety of local programs and services that, given our current public sector workforce shortages, would be difficult to provide without their capable assistance. With the additional reporting obligations and requirements that AB 2557 (Ortega),and its partner measure AB 2489 (Ward) would place on local agencies and contractors, we anticipate several negative impacts, including (1) fewer non-profit providers, community-based organizations, and other private service providers willing to engage with local agencies, (2) exacerbated already-demanding caseloads and workloads for our existing staff, and (3) increased costs for local agencies.  

There remains a chronic and sustained under-investment in funding local government programs and services in California. In fact, most of the new resources that local agencies have received from the state and federal governments over the past many years have been one-time investments which do not acknowledge the ongoing nature of local programs and services. As the state repeatedly acknowledges regarding its own budget, responsible budgeting means that one-time revenues should be spent on one-time expenditures. Given the extensive application of these measures, we anticipate costs associated with this measure will easily be in the hundreds of millions of dollars statewide. 

Some key provisions of these measures include: 

  • Requires that contractors provide quarterly performance reports containing a litany of required components, including personally identifiable information for its employees and subcontractors, which then becomes subject to the California Public Records Act. (AB 2557, Ortega) 

  • Requires, at the contractor's expense, a performance audit by an independent auditor to determine whether performance standards are being met for contracts with terms exceeding two years. (AB 2557, Ortega) 

  • Subjects temporary employment contracts to monthly reporting. (AB 2557, Ortega) 

  • Requires that at least 10 months prior to beginning a procurement process to contract for special services that are currently being provided or in the past 10 years have been provided by a member of an employee organization, local agencies must meet-and-confer with the affected employee organization regarding its determination to begin a procurement process by the governing body. (AB 2489, Ward) 

  •  Requires contractors to provide information to ensure that their employees meet the minimum qualifications and standards and to retain this information for two years. These personnel would also be subject to the California Public Records Act. (AB 2489, Ward) 

Local agencies are already subject to the statutory provisions of the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA), and related provisions of state law. These laws establish that local agencies cannot contract-out bargaining unit work simply to save money, and most contracting-out decisions are subject to meet-and-confer requirements. There are exceptions to the meet-and-confer requirement in cases of compelling necessity (like an emergency) or when there is an established past practice of contracting out particular work. The bills do not incorporate either of these exceptions. These issues are most appropriately addressed at the bargaining table where local conditions can be properly considered. 

AB 2557 (Ortega) and AB 2489 (Ward) represent a sweeping and costly change to the fundamental work of local governments. RCRC’s letters of opposition are available here: AB 2557 (Ortega)AB 2489 (Ward). RCRC requests that counties send individual letters of opposition. Templates are available here: AB 2557 (Ortega) | AB 2489 (Ward) 

Both measures passed out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 23rd, and have been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. For additional information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Sarah Dukett

California Water Commission Meeting, May 15

In May 2022, the California Water Commission released its final white paper on groundwater trading, focused on the concept of groundwater trading as a tool to manage resources sustainably in California under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The Commission’s May 2024 meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, May 15th, will include an update on groundwater trading and SGMA implementation from the Department of Water Resources.  

Date: Wednesday, May 15 
Time: 9:30 AM 
Location: State of California, Resources Building 
715 P Street, First Floor Auditorium 
Sacramento, CA, 95814 

The agenda is available here.

Farm Bill Frameworks Clash in Congress Ahead of Deadline

On May 1st, leaders of the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees released conflicting legislative outlines of their Farm Bill priorities. 

Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow‘s (D-MI) 94-page summary came approximately five hours after the House Agriculture Committee, led by Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA), released a much shorter 5-page bill summary

Committee leaders plan to meet in the coming weeks to discuss progress and address key differences; however, both committee proposals outline provisions that are framed as non-starters. As  lawmakers struggle to find compromise,  they face a September 30th deadline which is complicated by political posturing before the November election. The Farm Bill, which is historically a bipartisan five-year reauthorization filled with priorities of both parties—from nutrition aid to crop subsidies—was temporarily extended last year as parties failed to reach a five-year agreement. 

 Senator Stabenow told reporters she hopes her bill, which captures more than 100 bipartisan bills, kickstarts “serious bipartisan negotiations” on the Farm Bill. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) said that Senate Republicans will release their own framework after the House Agriculture Committee considers its bill, which is slated for markups on May 23. 

Republicans hope to make Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds available for an undefined expanded range of conservation practices; however, Democrats have strongly opposed any funding redirection that does not directly address climate change. The Senate proposal would tie in IRA conservation funding, but limit it to climate-related actions including cover crops and no-till farming. 

The Senate proposal would also permanently extend the authority of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to direct funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to conservation efforts, an ability the House proposal seeks to limit. In addition, it would double the eligibility period new farmers have to access subsidies for crop insurance premiums to ten years and raise reference prices for commodities, including rice, by 5%.

U.S. Senators Urge Affordable Connectivity Program Providers to Support Households by Bridging Funding Gap

On April 30th,  U.S. Senators, including Senator Butler of California,  sent a letter to Michael K. Powell, the President and Chief Executive Officer of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, and Meredith Attwell Baker, the President and Chief Executive Officer of CTIA, urging their member companies to ensure that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) subscribers receive the full $30 benefit in May.   

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced that it only has enough funding to provide ACP subscribers with a $14 benefit in May, rather than the full $30. Lawmakers, In their letter, urge NCTA and CTIA members to cover the $16 shortfall for the month, ensuring that subscribers do not lose internet access while lawmakers work towards a funding solution.

In California, nearly 3 million households are enrolled in the program. For a county-by-county look at enrollment data see here

BULLETIN BOARD

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.

 

2024 Public Meetings of the Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Collaborative

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2024 meetings of the Department of Water Resources DRIP (Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners) meetings. Members of the public may observe each meeting and provide public comments in-person (Sacramento) or remotely. Click the links below for information about each upcoming meeting.

July 12, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

October 18, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 

Employment Opportunities

Colusa County

Colusa County is seeking an Assistant County Administrative Officer. Salary: $132,300.00 - $216,780.00. This recruitment is open until filled. To learn more or to apply, see here. Colusa County offers an excellent benefit package.

Mendocino County

San Benito County

San Benito County Council of Governments is seeking a Transportation Planner II/III. Salary: $64,916-$100,692 Annually. This recruitment will remain open until filled. To learn more or to apply, click here. San Benito County offers an excellent benefit package.

CCDEH and CAEHA Seeking Shared Executive Director and Advocate (Sacramento - Remote)

The California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH) and California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (CAEHA) are seeking to fill a shared executive director and advocate position in Sacramento. This is a full-time position shared between these two public health organizations. This position is open through June 1, 2024, 5:00 PM, or until filled. Compensation and benefits are negotiable. Submit resumes by email to justin@ccdeh.com. To learn more, see the job announcement here.

CCDEH is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was established in 1956 to promote public environmental health in California – especially at the local government level. CCDEH has three staff and a budget of approximately $.5million. CAEHA is a 501(c)(4) non-profit established in 1968 with 3 staff and a budget of approximately $2.0million. CAEHA serves CCDEH and local environmental health programs through state-wide advocacy and staffing support. Both organizations work closely with the hazardous materials and 
safety regulators in the California Unified Program. The incumbent will be expected to advocate on behalf of the local Unified Program agencies as well as CCDEH. For additional information on these organizations see: www.ccdeh.org, www.caeha.net, and www.calcupa.org.

 

Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities

Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to your inbox

WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS

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.

 

Biden just expanded spectacular Northern California national monument – San Francisco Chronicle

Up a long dirt road flanked by wildflower-drenched meadows and rolling green mountains, about 120 miles north of San Francisco, lies California’s newest national monument land.

 

CA Forever takes next step in quest to build new city in Solano County – San Francisco Chronicle

The political fight over whether to allow a billionaire-backed developer to create a new city on 17,500 acres of ranchland in Eastern Solano entered a new phase this week as the group behind the plan says it has collected more than enough signatures to get the project on the November ballot.

 

As CA cuts groundwater use, what happens to fallowed land? – Cal Matters

A couple of weeks ago, the California Water Resources Control Board put five agricultural water agencies in Kings County on probation for failing to adequately manage underground water supplies in the Tulare Lake Basin that have been seriously depleted due to over pumping. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Information related to the current status of legislation impacting California’s rural counties.

AB 6 (Friedman)  Transportation planning: regional transportation plans: Solutions for Congested Corridors Program: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.   This bill would have amended reporting and transportation project review requirements, under SB 375 (2008), for the state’s 18 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), for project information pertaining to climate and greenhouse gas emissions impacts. The bill would have required MPOs to send technical methodologies to CA Air Resources Board for review before project selection and approval can commence.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was TRANS. on 6/14/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 7   (Friedman)   Transportation: planning: project selection processes.   This bill would have required all transportation projects funded, at least in part, through major state or federal funding programs to incorporate several, specified principles that include improving road safety, conformity with federal streamlined project principles, ADA compliance, water and air quality impacts, climate impacts, and access to disadvantaged communities, among others.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/11/2023) (May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 62   (Mathis)   Statewide water storage: expansion.   Would have established a statewide goal to increase above- and below-ground water storage capacity by a total of 3,700,000 acre-feet by the year 2030 and a total of 4,000,000 acre-feet by the year 2040. The bill would have required the Department of Water Resources, in consultation with the state board, to take reasonable actions to promote or assist efforts to achieve the statewide goal, as provided. The bill would require the department, beginning July 1, 2027, and on or before July 1 every 2 years thereafter until January 1, 2043, in consultation with the state board, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on the progress made to achieve the statewide goal.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 66   (Mathis)   Natural Resources Agency: water storage projects: permit approval.   Would have required CA Natural Resources Agency, or the relevant state agency, to approve the necessary permits for specified storage projects within 180 days from receiving a permit application, and would deem those permits approved if approval does not occur within this time period.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 68   (Ward)   Land use: streamlined housing approvals: density, subdivision, and utility approvals.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   No Position   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 422   (Alanis)   Natural Resources Agency: statewide water storage: tracking.   Would have required CA Natural Resources Agency, on or before June 1, 2024, to post on its publicly available internet website information tracking the progress to increase statewide water storage, and to keep that information updated.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 429   (Bennett)   Groundwater wells: permits.   If 1% of domestic wells were to go dry in a critically overdrafted basin, this bill would prohibit a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency from approving a permit for a new groundwater well or for an alteration to an existing well in a basin subject to the act and classified as a critically overdrafted basin unless the city county or well permitting agency obtains written verification from a groundwater sustainability agency that the proposed well would not be inconsistent with any sustainable groundwater management program AND the proposed well would not decrease the likelihood of achieving a sustainability goal for the basin covered by the plan.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 460   (Bauer-Kahan)   State Water Resources Control Board: water rights and usage: interim relief: procedures.   This bill would authorize CA State Water Board to issue, on its own motion or upon the petition of an interested party, an interim relief order in appropriate circumstances to implement or enforce these and related provisions of law. The bill would provide that a person or entity that violates any interim relief order issued by the board would be liable to the board for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed the sum of $10,000 for each day in which a violation occurs and $5,000 for each acre-foot of water diverted in violation of the interim relief order.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 6/7/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 491   (Wallis)   Local government: fines and penalties.   would provide effectual tools for addressing illicit land use activities, including unlicensed cannabis operations by (1) streamlined judicial reviewed for minor administrative penalties (under $25,000) imposed for unpermitted cannabis activities; (2) efficient collection of final penalty order (i.e. after administrative/judicial review is complete), in the same manner presently used for pesticide enforcement fines; (3) clarifies that priority of real property liens used to collect administrative penalties for these violations, by providing that such liens have the same priority as a judgement lien.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 9/25/2023-Measure version as amended on September 13 corrected.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 817   (Pacheco)   Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body.   AB 817 would provide a narrow exemption under the Ralph M.Brown Act for non-decision-making legislative bodies currently governed by Act, such as advisory bodies and commissions, to participate in two-way virtual teleconferencing without posting physical location of members. In addition, AB 817 would remove barriers to entry for appointed and elected office by allowing non-decision-making legislative bodies to participate virtually as long as they do not have the ability to take final action on legislation, regulations, contracts, licenses, permits, or other entitlements.   Location: Senate Local Government   Status: 5/1/2024-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and JUD.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1168   (Bennett)   Emergency medical services (EMS): prehospital EMS.   Would overturn an extensive statutory and case law record that has repeatedly affirmed county responsibility for the administration of emergency medical services and with that, the flexibility to design systems to equitably serve residents throughout their jurisdiction.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/12/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1272   (Wood)   State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning.   This bill would have required State Water Board to establish a program, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, to adopt principles and guidelines for diversion and use of water in coastal watersheds, as specified, during times of water shortage for drought preparedness and climate resiliency. The bill would have required that the principles and guidelines provide for the development of watershed-level plans to support public trust uses, public health and safety, and the human right to water in times of water shortage, among other things.   Location: Senate Desk   Status: 9/14/2023-Withdrawn from Engrossing and Enrolling. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1337   (Wicks)   State Water Resources Control Board: water diversion curtailment.   This bill would have expanded the instances when the diversion or use of water is considered a trespass, and would have directed State Water Board to adopt regulations for various water conservation purposes, including, but not limited to, to prevent the waste, unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method of diversion of water, and to implement these regulations through orders curtailing the diversion or use of water under any claim of right.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 6/7/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1563   (Bennett)   Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification.   This bill would have required a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency to obtain a written verification from the groundwater sustainability agency that manages the basin or area of the basin where the well is proposed to be located determining that, among other things, the extraction by the proposed well is consistent with any sustainable groundwater management program.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was GOV. & F. on 6/22/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1616   (Lackey)   California Cannabis Tax Fund: Board of State and Community Corrections grants.   AB 1616 would require the Board of State and Community Corrections to prioritize local governments whose programs seek to address the unlawful cultivation and sale of cannabis when disbursing grants from California Cannabis Tax Fund. The bill would also authorize the board to make grants to local governments that ban both indoor and outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation or ban retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products.   Location: Senate Public Safety   Status: 6/26/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB S. (Ayes 9. Noes 2.) (June 26). Re-referred to Com. on PUB S.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1785   (Pacheco)   California Public Records Act.   Would prohibit local agencies from posting an assessor’s parcel number associated with an elected or appointed official on the internet without their written permission.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 4/25/2024-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1951   (Fong, Vince)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: roadside wildfire prevention projects.   would statutorily exempt from CEQA fuels reduction projects, including removal of trees and brush within 50’ of either side of a roadway. AB 1951 would fill gaps where such work would not qualify for existing statutory or categorical CEQA exemptions and is not covered by CalFire’s Vegetation Treatment Program (VTP) Environmental Impact Report (EIR).   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 4/25/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(5). (Last location was NAT. RES. on 2/12/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1957   (Wilson)   Public contracts: best value construction contracting for counties.   would authorize any county in the state to utilize the best-value contracting model and eliminates the statutory sunset on such authority.   Location: Assembly Consent Calendar   Status: 5/2/2024-Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2037   (Papan)   Weights and measures: electric vehicle chargers.   Current law regulates advertising that indicates the price of motor vehicle fuel, including electricity sold as a motor vehicle fuel. Current law requires a county sealer to enforce the advertising requirements. Current law defines “correct,” for purposes of testing and verifying the accuracy of a weighing or measuring device, as a weight or measure or a weighing, measuring, or counting instrument that meets certain tolerance and specification requirements. This bill would authorize a county sealer to test and verify as correct any electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as defined, that is located in the county in which the sealer has jurisdiction. The bill would require a county sealer to condemn and seize, or cause to be marked with a tag or other device with the words “out of order,” an incorrect, as defined, electronic vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as specified. The bill would authorize a county board of supervisors to charge an annual registration fee for the cost of inspecting and testing an electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as specified.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 4/29/2024-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2079   (Bennett)   Groundwater extraction: large-diameter, high-capacity water wells: permits.   The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. Current law authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin and imposes specified duties upon that agency or combination of agencies, as provided. Current law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt a model water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment ordinance implementing certain standards for water well construction, maintenance, and abandonment and requires each county, city, or water agency, where appropriate, not later than January 15, 1990, to adopt a water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment ordinance that meets or exceeds certain standards. Under current law, if a county, city, or water agency, where appropriate, fails to adopt an ordinance establishing water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment standards, the model ordinance adopted by the state board is required to take effect on February 15, 1990, and is required to be enforced by the county or city and have the same force and effect as if adopted as a county or city ordinance. This bill would require a local enforcement agency, as defined, to perform specified activities at least 30 days before determining whether to approve a permit for a new large-diameter, high-capacity well, as defined. By imposing additional requirements on a local enforcement agency, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/29/2024-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2104   (Soria)   Community colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/17/2024-Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2266   (Petrie-Norris)   California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project: vehicle eligibility.   Requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to authorize a voucher for a public or private fleet issued under the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project program to be used for the acquisition of a zero-emission vehicle with a gross vehicle weight greater than 8,500 pounds.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 4/25/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(5). (Last location was TRANS. on 2/26/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Leigh (1)

AB 2276   (Wood)   Forestry: timber harvesting plans: exemptions.   AB 2276 extends the sunset date to January 1, 2031 for three important exemptions from timber harvest plan requirements necessary for small land owners to perform fuels treatment and vegetation maintenance on their properties for the purpose of wildfire mitigation.   Location: Assembly Consent Calendar   Status: 5/2/2024-Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2302   (Addis)   Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.     Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 4/15/2024-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2330   (Holden)   Endangered species: incidental take: wildfire preparedness activities.   AB 2330 would streamline the process for fuels treatment projects for local governments that require an incidental take of a candidate species.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/25/2024-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2344   (Petrie-Norris)   Fire prevention: grant programs: reporting.   AB 2344 would require the Governor's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to publicly post information regarding the allocation of funds from grant programs to provide better information regarding how the state's resources are being utilized for forest resilience projects.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/10/2024-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2346   (Lee)   Organic waste reduction regulations: procurement of recovered organic waste products.     Location: Senate Rules   Status: 5/2/2024-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2469   (Committee on Emergency Management)   Emergency Management Assistance Compact: California Wildfire Mitigation Financial Assistance Program.   AB 2469 extends the sunset of the California Wildfire Mitigation Program from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2030.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/1/2024-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2514   (Aguiar-Curry)   Solid waste: organic waste: diversion: hydrogen: biomethane.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/11/2024-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2528   (Arambula)   Williamson Act contracts: cancellation: energy projects.   The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to enter into contracts with owners of agricultural land to preserve the land to agricultural use, as specified. Current law authorizes the cancellation of a contract under certain circumstances. Current law requires the city or county to execute and record a certificate of cancellation of contract if the city and county approves a cancellation of a contract. Current law authorizes the city or county to charge a cancellation fee in an amount equal to 12.5% of the cancellation valuation of the property. This bill would instead require that the cancellation fees be transmitted by the county treasurer to the Controller within 45 days of the execution of a certification of cancellation of contract.   Location: Assembly Agriculture   Status: 5/2/2024-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 24).   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2746   (Villapudua)   Streamlined housing approvals: multifamily housing developments: agricultural employee housing.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 4/25/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(5). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 3/4/2024)    Staff:  John (1)

AB 2787   (Patterson, Joe)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.     Location: Senate Rules   Status: 4/25/2024-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2902   (Wood)   Organic waste: reduction regulations: exemptions.     Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/1/2024-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 3011   (Bains)   Electricity: rates: unreasonable hardship.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 4/25/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(5). (Last location was U. & E. on 3/11/2024)   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

AB 3150   (Quirk-Silva)   Fire safety: fire hazard severity zones: defensible space: State Fire Marshal.   AB 3150 would allow for members of the public to petition the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to review the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for potential reclassifications based on new data, and would shift certain responsibilities regarding the maps from the Board of Forestry to the OSFM.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/23/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 23   (Caballero)   Water supply and flood risk reduction projects: expedited permitting.   This bill would have authorized a state agency, defined to mean any agency, board, or commission, including the state board or the regional boards, with the power to issue a permit that would authorize a water supply project or authorize a flood risk reduction project, to take specified actions in order to complete permit review and approval in an expeditious manner. The bill would have made findings and declarations related to the need to expedite water supply projects and flood risk reduction projects to better address climate change impacts while protecting the environment.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 399   (Wahab)   Employer communications: intimidation.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/1/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was APPR. on 7/11/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 418   (Padilla)   California Prison Redevelopment Commission.   Would establish the California Prison Redevelopment Commission and articulate its responsibilities including its composition, with a focus on developing recommendations for repurposing closed state prison facilities.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/1/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 584   (Limón)   Laborforce housing: Short-Term Rental Tax Law.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/29/2023-June 28 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 624   (Alvarado-Gil)   Horse racing: state-designated fairs: allocation of revenues: gross receipts for sales and use tax.     Location: Assembly Revenue and Taxation Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-July 10 set for first hearing. Placed on REV. & TAX. suspense file. July 10 hearing. Held in committee and under submission.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 820   (Alvarado-Gil)   Cannabis: enforcement: seizure of property.   Adapts the same seizure of property provisions currently applicable to unlicensed manufacturing of alcoholic beverages (i.e., moonshining), to cover unlicensed commercial cannabis activities. In addition, SB 820 would invest enforcement proceeds in the Cannabis Control Fund to support equity business.   Location: Assembly B.&p.   Status: 4/29/2024-Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and PUB. S.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 945   (Alvarado-Gil)   The Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act.   SB 945, the Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act, would require the State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, and the State Air Resources Board to create, operate, and maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform that, among other things, would integrate wildfire smoke and health data from multiple databases.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/29/2024-April 29 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 946   (McGuire)   Personal Income Tax Law: Corporation Tax Law: exclusions: wildfire mitigation payments.   SB 946 would exclude payments from the California Wildfire Mitigation Program, the state's pilot grant program to aid low income homeowners with home hardening retrofits, from eligibility for state income taxes.   Location: Senate Revenue and Taxation   Status: 4/29/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 952   (Dahle)   Personal income taxes: Fire Safe Home Tax Credits Act.   SB 952 would offer tax credits to lower income property owners for home retrofits and vegetation management activities in order to mitigate the risks from high severity wildfire events.   Location: Senate Revenue and Taxation   Status: 4/4/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 960   (Wiener)   Transportation: planning: complete streets facilities: transit priority projects.   Would require all transportation projects funded or overseen by the Department of Transportation to provide comfortable, convenient, and connected complete streets facilities unless an exemption is documented and approved, as specified.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/26/2024-Set for hearing May 6.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 961   (Wiener)   Vehicles: safety equipment.   The Department of the California Highway Patrol regulates the safe operation of specified vehicles, including motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds, truck tractors, trailers, semitrailers, and buses. Current federal law regulates required safety equipment on vehicles, including rear impact guards on certain large trucks to prevent rear underrides in collisions with passenger vehicles. This bill would require certain trucks and trailers to also be equipped with side guards, as specified.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/2/2024-May 6 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 973   (Grove)   Williamson Act: cancellation: solar energy projects.   The Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land located in an agricultural preserve designated by the city or county to preserve the land, subject to conditions of the contract, that may include an agreement to a specified valuation of the land for purposes of property taxation. The act authorizes a landowner to petition the city council or board of supervisors, as applicable, for cancellation of the contract under specified circumstances and imposes a cancellation fee equal to 12.5% of the fair market value of the land without the restriction of the contract. This bill would authorize a board or council to grant a petition for cancellation where the land subject to the contract is located in a basin under the jurisdiction of an adjudicated watermaster or the groundwater sustainability agency. The bill would require the landowner to commit to limiting the amount of water rights to a specific solar energy project, as defined, that uses less water than the agricultural use. The bill would also require the board or council to make specified findings, including that the solar energy project use is being permitted that will use less water than the agricultural use.   Location: Senate Local Government   Status: 2/21/2024-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and E.Q.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1004   (Wilk)   Income taxes: exclusions: wildfires.   SB 1004, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020, would provide an exclusion from gross income for any qualified taxpayer, as defined, for amounts received for costs and losses associated with wildfires.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/8/2024-April 8 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1045   (Blakespear)   Composting facilities: zoning.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/29/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1046   (Laird)   Organic waste reduction: program environmental impact report: small and medium compostable material handling facilities or operations.     Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 4/25/2024-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1060   (Becker)   Property insurance underwriting: risk models.   SB 1060 would require companies offering property insurance in California and utilizing risk assessment models in their underwriting to account for home hardening, defensible space, and community wildfire risk mitigation measures in their models.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/29/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1064   (Laird)   Cannabis: operator and separate premises license types: excessive concentration of licenses.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/26/2024-Set for hearing May 6.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1066   (Blakespear)   Hazardous waste: marine flares: producer responsibility.     Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/29/2024-April 29 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1101   (Limón)   Fire prevention: prescribed fire: state contracts: maps.   SB 1101 streamlines the process for CAL FIRE to enter into contracts for prescribed fire operations for the purpose of fuels treatment projects.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/26/2024-Set for hearing May 6.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1116   (Portantino)   Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/26/2024-Set for hearing May 6.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1143   (Allen)   Household hazardous waste: producer responsibility.     Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/29/2024-April 29 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1156   (Hurtado)   Groundwater sustainability agencies: conflicts of interest: financial interest disclosures.   The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. Existing law requires a groundwater sustainability plan to be developed and implemented for each medium- or high-priority basin by a groundwater sustainability agency. Current law authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin, as provided. Current provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 prohibit a public official from making, participating in making, or attempting to use their official position to influence a governmental decision in which they know or have reason to know that they have a financial interest, as defined. However, current law permits a public official to make or participate in the making of a governmental decision, even if the public official knows or has reason to know that the official has a financial interest, if the official’s participation is legally required for the action or decision to be made. Current law makes a knowing or willful violation of the act a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties. This bill would require members of the executive team, board of directors, and other groundwater management decision makers of groundwater sustainability agencies to annually disclose any economic or financial interests pursuant to the Political Reform Act of 1974 that may reasonably be considered to affect their decision-making related to groundwater management, as provided.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/30/2024-Set for hearing May 6.   Position:   No Position   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1159   (Dodd)   California Environmental Quality Act: roadside wildfire risk reduction projects.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 4/24/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1175   (Ochoa Bogh)   Organic waste: reduction goals: local jurisdictions: waivers.   Would require the State Air Resources Board to consider alternatives to census tracts, as provided, when deciding the boundaries of a low-population or elevation waiver and would require low-population waivers to be valid for a period of 10 years.   Location: Senate Third Reading   Status: 4/23/2024-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1269   (Padilla)   Safety net hospitals.     Location: Senate Health   Status: 4/15/2024-April 24 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1280   (Laird)   Waste management: propane cylinders: reusable or refillable.     Location: Senate Third Reading   Status: 4/23/2024-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)