Information related to the current status of legislation impacting California’s rural counties.
AB 522 (Fong) Forestry: Forest Fire Prevention Exemption The Z’berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 authorizes the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to exempt specific forest management activities, including the harvesting of trees for the purpose of reducing the rate of fire spread, and duration, intensity, fuel ignitability, or ignition of tree crowns, known as the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption. Assembly Bill 522 extends the sunset of the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption to January 1, 2026 to aid forest landowners with wildfire prevention activities. Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water Status: 5/4/2022-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W. Position: Support Staff: Staci (1)
AB 870 (Santiago) Hazardous materials: liens. Provides that when the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that a contaminated site must be remediated, and issues a cost estimate to the property owner for the estimated cost of remediation, the amount in the cost estimate shall constitute a lien on the property that takes priority over all other liens, including liens for local property taxes and special assessments. Location: Assembly Dead Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. Position: Concerns Staff: John (1)
AB 1001 (Garcia, Cristina) Environment: mitigation measures for air quality impacts: environmental justice. Modifies the California Environmental Quality Act by: 1) Requiring air and water quality impacts to a disadvantaged community to be mitigated in that community; 2) Requiring local agencies to give consideration to the principles of environmental justice by ensuring the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins. Location: Senate Environmental Quality Status: 5/4/2022-Re-referred to Com. on E.Q. Position: Oppose Staff: John (1)
AB 1078 (Patterson) Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements. Exempts residential buildings damaged or destroyed in a disaster during the 2020 calendar year from having to install solar energy systems under the California Energy Commission’s recently adopted building requirements. Location: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Status: 5/4/2022-Referred to Com. on E., U. & C. Position: Support Staff: John (1)
AB 1154 (Patterson) California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: egress route projects: fire safety. Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act secondary egress route projects undertaken by a public agency for a subdivision in a high fire threat area that was evaluated by the Board of Forestry. Location: Senate Environmental Quality Status: 5/4/2022-Referred to Com. on E.Q. Position: Support Staff: John (1)
AB 1249 (Gallagher) Income taxes: gross income exclusions: wildfires. Location: Senate Gov. & F. Status: 3/30/2022-Referred to Com. on GOV. & F. Position: Support Staff: Staci (1)
AB 1434 (Friedman) Urban water use objectives: indoor residential water use. Location: Assembly Dead Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. Position: Concerns Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 1454 (Bloom) The California Beverage Container and Litter Reduction Act. Assembly Bill 1454 makes several changes to the Beverage Container Recycling Program, including creation of a new $25,000 startup loan for the creation of new recycling centers in unserved or underserved areas and increased payments to redemption centers with an even greater increase in rural areas. Location: Senate 2 year Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was E.Q. on 6/16/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022) Position: Support Staff: John (1)
AB 1547 (Reyes) Air pollution: warehouse facilities. AB 1547 allows the Air Resources Board to regulate indirect sources of air pollution and requires local governments to undertake many other actions to identify and address the potential environmental impacts of warehouse development projects. Location: Assembly Dead Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. Position: Oppose Staff: John (1)
AB 1608 (Gipson) County officers: consolidation of offices. AB 1608 would remove county authority to combine the duties of the Sheriff with the duties of the Coroner. The bill appears to require counties with a combined Sheriff-Coroner function to either combine the Coroner with another authorized elected office, transition to a standalone elected Coroner, or replace the Coroner model with a Medical Examiner office. Location: Assembly Third Reading Status: 4/21/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading. Position: Oppose Unless Amended Staff: Sarah (1)
AB 1642 (Salas) California Environmental Quality Act: water system well and domestic well projects: exemption. Exempts from CEQA, vital projects to prevent or mitigate failure of a well that would leave residents without an adequate supply of drinking water. This exemption only applies to those wells in areas designated by the State Water Resources Control Board as being at high risk or medium risk in the state’s annual Drinking Water Needs Assessment. Location: Senate Rules Status: 5/5/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 55. Noes 2.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. Position: Support Staff: John (1)
AB 1644 (Flora) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: California Jobs Plan Act of 2021. The California Jobs Plan Act of 2021 requires the state board to work with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to update, by July 1, 2025, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund funding guidelines for administering agencies to ensure that all applicants to grant programs funded by the fund meet specified standards, including fair and responsible employer standards and inclusive procurement policies, as provided. Existing law exempts from these standards applicants for certain types of projects. This bill would exempt applicants for projects for healthy forest and fire prevention programs and projects, and the completion of prescribed fire and other fuel reduction projects from these standards. Location: Assembly Consent Calendar Status: 5/5/2022-Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. Position: Support Staff: Staci (1)
AB 1696 (Lee) Elections: nonpartisan candidates’ party preference. Current constitutional and statutory law prohibits including the party preference of a candidate for nonpartisan office, defined as any judicial, school, county, or municipal office, including the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on the ballot for that office. This bill would require the ballot for the above offices, except for judicial offices, to contain the candidate’s party preference or, if applicable, lack of party preference. Location: Assembly Dead Status: 4/29/2022-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(5). (Last location was ELECTIONS on 3/10/2022) Position: Oppose Staff: Sarah (1)
AB 1717 (Aguiar-Curry) Public works: definition. Assembly Bill 1717 requires prevailing wage to be paid for public works projects funded by public dollars related to community wildfire prevention, vegetation management and fuels treatment. Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/27/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. Position: Oppose Staff: Staci (1)
AB 1749 (Garcia, Cristina) Community Air Protection Blueprint: community emissions reduction programs: toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants. Prohibits approval or issuance of permits for projects that contribute to an increase in air pollutants or toxic air contaminants in a CalEnviroScreen disadvantaged community unless the agency finds that increased emissions caused by the project (combined with cumulative emissions from other sources) will not cause or contribute to additional negative public health impacts on individuals living and working in that community. Requires the state to identify measures to reduce criteria air pollutant and toxic air contaminant emissions in CalEnviroScreen disadvantaged communities. Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/27/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. Position: Oppose Staff: John (1)
AB 1757 (Ward) Groundwater sustainability agency. Location: Assembly Appropriations Status: 4/28/2022-Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 1784 (Smith) Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014: groundwater sustainability projects: grants and loans. Location: Assembly Print Status: 2/4/2022-From printer. May be heard in committee March 6. Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 1814 (Grayson) Transportation electrification: community choice aggregators. Allows community choice aggregators to file applications with the state for approval of programs and investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification. Location: Assembly Dead Status: 4/29/2022-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(5). (Last location was U. & E. on 2/18/2022) Position: Support Staff: John (1)
AB 1832 (Rivas, Luz) Waters subject to tidal influence: hard mineral extraction. Prohibits the State Lands Commission and local trustees of granted public trust lands from granting leases or issuing permits for extraction or removal of hard minerals (not including rock, gravel, sand, silt, and coal) from tidelands and submerged lands. Location: Senate Rules Status: 5/5/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 62. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. Position: Pending Staff: John (1)
AB 1851 (Rivas, Robert ) Public works: prevailing wage: hauling. Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/27/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. Position: Watch Staff: John (1)
AB 1879 (Mathis) California regional water quality control boards: unfounded or frivolous complaints. Location: Assembly Appropriations Status: 4/27/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 1906 (Stone) Voluntary stream restoration: property owner liability: indemnification: claims. Location: Senate Rules Status: 5/5/2022-Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 61. Noes 0.). In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 1931 (Rivas, Luz) Community water systems: lead pipes. Location: Assembly Appropriations Status: 4/27/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 3.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 1944 (Lee) Local government: open and public meetings. AB 1944 would authorize members of local legislative bodies to teleconference from a remote location without making the address of that location public. Additionally, the bill requires that – for those local agencies that elect to use teleconferencing for its legislative body meetings – a video stream is made available to members of the public, including an opportunity to provide public comment via telephone or videoconference option. Location: Assembly Third Reading Status: 5/5/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading. Position: Support Staff: Sarah (1)
AB 1952 (Gallagher) Infill Infrastructure Grant Program of 2019. Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act projects funded by the $500 million set aside for the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program of 2019. Location: Assembly Dead Status: 4/29/2022-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(5). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 2/18/2022) Position: Pending Staff: John (1)
AB 1953 (Maienschein) Drinking water: accessible water bottle refill stations. Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/27/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. Position: Oppose Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 1956 (Mathis) Solid waste: woody biomass: collection and conversion. Creates a new grant program administered by CalRecycle to fund woody biomass collection and disposal by rural counties with a population of 250,000 or less. Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File Status: 5/4/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. Position: Support Staff: John (1)
AB 2081 (Garcia, Eduardo) Municipal water districts: water service: Indian lands. Location: Senate Rules Status: 5/3/2022-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 2201 (Bennett) Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification. Location: Assembly Appropriations Status: 4/28/2022-Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Position: Oppose Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 2208 (Kalra) Fluorescent lamps: sale and distribution: prohibition. Location: Assembly Third Reading Status: 4/28/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading. Position: Watch Staff: John (1)
AB 2258 (Wood) Local government: wildfire safety improvements. Location: Assembly Banking and Finance Status: 4/25/2022-Re-referred to Com. on B. & F. Position: Pending Staff: John (1)
AB 2374 (Bauer-Kahan) Crimes against public health and safety: illegal dumping. Location: Assembly Appropriations Status: 4/26/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Position: Support Staff: John (1)
AB 2419 (Bryan) Environmental justice: federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Justice40 Oversight Committee. Location: Assembly Appropriations Status: 4/27/2022-Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Position: Concerns Staff: Staci (1)
AB 2421 (Rubio, Blanca) Water: unlicensed cannabis cultivation. AB 2421 would amend the California State Water Code to provide authority to county counsels and city attorneys to civilly prosecute and enjoin water theft. It would also amend the California Fish and Game Code to authorize county counsels to civilly prosecute and enjoin water pollution. By removing existing limitations on prosecutorial authority, the bill provides more tools for local governments to use against the harmful community impacts of illicit cannabis cultivation as well as the degradation of our water and other natural resources. Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File Status: 5/4/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. Position: Support Staff: Sarah (1)
AB 2449 (Rubio, Blanca) Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences. AB 2449 would authorize remote participation in local public meetings if at least a quorum of the members of the legislative body participates in person from a location clearly identified on the agenda that is also open to the public and situated within the boundaries of the local agencies. In order to do so, the local agency must appropriately post agendas, members of the legislative body attending the meeting by teleconference must participate in both audio and video formats, and members of the public must have call-in and internet-based access for attending and participating in the meetings. Location: Assembly Third Reading Status: 5/5/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading. Position: Support Staff: Sarah (1)
AB 2451 (Wood) State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning. Location: Assembly Appropriations Status: 4/26/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 2454 (Jones-Sawyer) Public contracts: protests: joint labor-management committee. Location: Assembly Appropriations Status: 4/27/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (April 27). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Position: Pending Staff: Sarah (1)
AB 2505 (Gray) Water theft: irrigation districts. Location: Assembly Consent Calendar Status: 5/5/2022-Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. Staff: Sidd (1)
AB 2647 (Levine) Local government: open meetings. This measure would clarify that writings distributed to the majority of a local legislative body less than 72 hours before a meeting can be posted online to satisfy the Brown Act if physical copies are made available for public inspection at the beginning of the next regular business day at a public office or designated location. Location: Assembly Third Reading Status: 5/5/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading. Position: Support Staff: Sarah (1)
AB 2677 (Gabriel) Information Practices Act of 1977. Would remove the exemption of local agencies from the Act, which deals with the collection, storage, and disclosure of personal information. Location: Assembly Appropriations Status: 4/25/2022-Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Position: Oppose Staff: Sarah (1)
ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry) Local government financing: affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval. ACA 1 would lower the vote threshold to 55 percent for approval of local bonded-indebtedness and specially dedicated taxes imposed for specified uses. Location: Assembly Local Government Status: 4/22/2021-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and APPR. Position: Support Staff: Tracy (1)
ACA 13 (Mathis) Water infrastructure projects: minimum funding requirement and general obligation bonds. Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Status: 4/7/2022-Referred to Coms. on W.,P., & W. and NAT. RES. Staff: Sidd (1)
AJR 5 (Rivas, Luz) Wild free-roaming horses and burros: protection: roundup moratorium. AJR 5 would urge the federal government to declare a moratorium on all further wild horse and burro round-ups and would urge the United States Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service to introduce and support populations in areas of California where wild horses and burros were historically present. Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water Status: 8/25/2021-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W. Position: Oppose Staff: Sidd (1)
SB 12 (McGuire) Local government: planning and zoning: wildfires. Senate Bill 12 requires that the Office of Planning and Research, among other things, coordinate with appropriate entities, including state, regional, or local agencies, to establish a clearinghouse for climate adaptation information for use by state, regional, and local entities, as provided. This bill would require the safety element, upon the next revision of the housing element or the hazard mitigation plan, on or after July 1, 2024, whichever occurs first. Location: Assembly 2 year Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 6/24/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022) Position: Pending Staff: Tracy (1)
SB 37 (Cortese) Contaminated Site Cleanup and Safety Act. Senate Bill 37 eliminates the ability to use a “common sense exemption” under the California Environmental Quality Act for any projects undertaken at over 40,000 sites throughout the state that appear on the Cortese List of currently or formerly contaminated properties. Instead allows specified types of projects to use either a statutory or categorical CEQA exemption is certain circumstances are met Location: Assembly 2 year Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/8/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022) Position: Neutral Staff: John (1)
SB 38 (Wieckowski) Beverage containers. Replaces the existing Beverage Container Recycling Program (Bottle Bill) with a new recycling program administered by beverage container manufacturers and increases the CRV from $0.05 to $0.10 per container if the state fails to achieve specified recycling rates. Repeals the $10.5 million annually set aside for payments to cities and counties to address recycling and litter. Location: Assembly Natural Resources Status: 2/14/2022-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. (Amended 2/14/2022) Position: Oppose Unless Amended Staff: John (1)
SB 54 (Allen) Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act. SB 54 requires manufactures of single-use, disposable packaging and food service ware to ensure that those products sold, distributed, or imported into the state are either recyclable or compostable. Location: Assembly Natural Resources Status: 5/5/2022-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES. Position: Support In Concept Staff: John (1)
SB 213 (Cortese) Workers’ compensation: hospital employees. Location: Assembly Insurance Status: 5/5/2022-Referred to Com. on INS. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on INS. Position: Oppose Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 359 (Caballero) Climate change: Resilient Merced County Incentive Pilot Program. Senate Bill 359 requires the Department of Conservation to develop and implement the Resilient Merced County Incentive Pilot Program to assist the County of Merced to develop and adopt a climate action plan through the use of a scenario-planning tool developed by the department and provide financial assistance to private landowners in implementing activities resulting from the use of the scenario-planning tool set forth in the adopted climate action plan. Location: Senate Dead Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. Position: Pending Staff: Sidd (1)
SB 463 (Dahle) Water: landowner or water right holder right to modify, repair, or replace jointly used conduits. Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Status: 3/18/2022-March 22 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author. Staff: Sidd (1)
SB 832 (Dodd) Water rights: measurement of diversion. Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/25/2022-April 25 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. Position: Watch Staff: Sidd (1)
SB 833 (Dodd) Community Energy Resilience Act of 2022. Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop and implement a grant program for local governments to develop community energy resilience plans. Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/4/2022-April 4 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. Position: Support Staff: John (1)
SB 915 (Min) Firearms: state property. SB 915, which would prohibit the sale of firearms on any state- or county-owned property, including fairgrounds from holding gun shows and, as a result, erode the revenue stream that would be derived from legal gun shows on these premises. Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/4/2022-April 4 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. Position: Oppose Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 926 (Dodd) Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program: Prescribed Fire Claims Fund. Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/25/2022-April 25 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. Position: Support Staff: Staci (1)
SB 931 (Leyva) Deterring union membership: violations. Authorizes PERB claim alleging employer deterred or discouraged union membership, up to $100,000 fine ($1,000 per employee impacted) and attorney’s fees for employee organization. Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File Status: 5/2/2022-May 2 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. Position: Oppose Unless Amended Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 938 (Hertzberg) The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000: protest proceedings: procedural consolidation. Location: Assembly Local Government Status: 5/5/2022-Referred to Com. on L. GOV. Position: Support Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 953 (Min) Oil and gas leases: state waters: State Lands Commission. Requires the State Lands Commission to terminate all remaining oil and gas leases under its jurisdiction in tidelands and submerged lands within state waters. Location: Senate Appropriations Status: 4/29/2022-Set for hearing May 9. Position: Watch Staff: John (1)
SB 1012 (Glazer) State parks: open fires. Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/4/2022-April 4 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. Position: Support Staff: Staci (1)
SB 1013 (Atkins) Beverage container recycling: reports: electronic submittal: wine and distilled spirits. Location: Senate Appropriations Status: 4/29/2022-Set for hearing May 9. Position: Watch Staff: John (1)
SB 1044 (Durazo) Employers: state of emergency or emergency condition: retaliation. SB 1044 would prohibit an employer from taking or threatening any adverse action against any employee for refusing to report to, or leaving, a workplace because the employee feels unsafe due to a state of emergency or an emergency condition, and (2) permit employees to access their mobile device or other communications device. Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/4/2022-April 4 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. Position: Oppose Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 1100 (Cortese) Open meetings: orderly conduct. SB 1100 would clarify the rules around when individuals can be removed for willfully interrupting a meeting. Location: Assembly Local Government Status: 5/5/2022-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and JUD. Position: Pending Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 1127 (Atkins) Workers’ compensation: liability presumptions. SB 1127 proposes to shorten the time provided for employers to investigate claims from 90 to 30 days for any claim covered by a presumption statute, and 60 days for all other claims. The bill proposes new and unprecedented penalties all claims covered by presumption statutes up to $100,000. Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File Status: 4/4/2022-April 4 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. Position: Oppose Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 1186 (Wiener) Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act. SB 1186 undermines the intent of MAUCRSA by (1) eliminating a local jurisdiction's ability to prohibit medical cannabis retail activities, regardless of the needs or conditions in the jurisdiction, and (2) restricting the ability for the large number of jurisdictions that permit and regulate cannabis retailers to set appropriate local regulations which are developed in a public process. Location: Senate Appropriations Status: 4/29/2022-Set for hearing May 9. Position: Oppose Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 1215 (Newman) Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022. Location: Senate Appropriations Status: 4/29/2022-Set for hearing May 9. Position: Support Staff: John (1)
SB 1220 (Hurtado) Sustainable Groundwater Management Act: groundwater sustainability plans. Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water Status: 4/13/2022-April 19 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. Staff: Sidd (1)
SB 1235 (Borgeas) Air pollution: portable equipment: emergency events. Location: Senate Dead Status: 4/29/2022-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(5). (Last location was E.Q. on 3/2/2022) Position: Pending Staff: John (1)
SB 1256 (Wieckowski) Waste management: disposable propane cylinders. Location: Senate Third Reading Status: 4/21/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading. Position: Watch Staff: John (1)
SB 1326 (Caballero) Cannabis: interstate agreements. SB 1326 would allow the cross jurisdictional import and export to other states, of cannabis and cannabis products by authorizing the Governor to enter into an agreement to provide lawful interstate commerce. SB 1326 requires the agreement to include public health, safety, and labeling standards, a system to regulate and track cannabis items, collection of applicable taxes, and that out of state cannabis items delivered to California be tested, packaged, and labeled in compliance with California state law. Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File Status: 5/2/2022-May 2 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. Position: Sponsor Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 1338 (Umberg) Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program. SB 1338 reflects Governor Newsom’s vison for creating a new civil court process to reach and treat individuals living with untreated schizophrenia spectrum and psychiatric disorders. These new Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Courts would work with public defenders, county behavioral health, and a new class of trained “supporters” to assist individuals with treatment, medication, and housing. CARE Courts require significant engagement and resources from counties. Location: Senate Appropriations Status: 5/4/2022-May 9 hearing postponed by committee. Position: Concerns Staff: Sarah (1)
SB 1426 (Caballero) Cannabis: water pollution crimes. Would make it a misdemeanor or felony to plant, cultivate, harvest, dry, or process more than 50 living cannabis plants, or any part thereof, and where that activity involves theft of groundwater, unauthorized tapping into a water conveyance or storage infrastructure, digging an unpermitted, illegal well, or the pollution of groundwater, as specified. This bill would also clarify that causing substantial environmental harm to public resources includes groundwater. Location: Senate Appropriations Status: 5/2/2022-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Position: Support Staff: Sarah (1)