The Barbed Wire - June 28, 2024

June 28, 2024
The Barbed Wire on Hiatus – Returns August 9th
Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 1064 (Laird) – Cannabis: Operator and Separate Premises License Types
Highlights of the Latest Bills in the 2024-25 State Budget Package
RCRC Annual Meeting Registration Now Open!
DOI Announces $621.2 Million in PILT Funding to Support Vital Services in Communities 
U. S. Senators Announce Legislation to Address Racial Disparities in Health Care Access 
Special Feature! Understanding the Pace of Technology and Organizational Change in Rural Government
RCRC 8th Annual Photo Contest Closes Sunday, June 30th
RCRC AFFILIATE ENTITIES
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP
WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The Barbed Wire on Hiatus – Returns August 9th

In light of the upcoming Independence Day holiday and the recess of the State Legislature after July 3rd, RCRC’s Barbed Wire newsletter will be on hiatus through the month of July. We will return on August 9th with the latest legislative and regulatory news impacting California’s rural counties.

Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 1064 (Laird) – Cannabis: Operator and Separate Premises License Types

RCRC, along with the California Cannabis Industry Association, is co-sponsoring Senate Bill 1064 authored by Senator John Laird. This measure aims to modernize the state licensing structure for cannabis. This measure represents a crucial step forward in achieving two primary objectives: to encourage economic growth and stability in the legal cannabis industry, and to assist local governments in permitting commercial cannabis activity by establishing clear responsibilities and a streamlined process. 

Specifically, SB 1064 addresses the complexity and inefficiency of the current licensing system, which requires business to obtain multiple licenses for different activities conducted at a single location. This measure replaces the current system with a streamlined process through which a single premises license is issued for each location.  

Additionally, SB 1064 clarifies the roles of state and local governments in the licensing and oversight of cannabis businesses, ensuring that each level of government focuses on its respective areas of expertise by focusing state-level review on the operator and cannabis-specific activities performed and returning land use review to local governments. 

This measure has passed through the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions committee and has been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  

RCRC’s letter of support is available here. Contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Sarah Dukett for additional information. 

Highlights of the Latest Bills in the 2024-25 State Budget Package

Over the past week, the Legislature acted on several budget-related bills, including two “budget bills junior” and a handful of budget trailer bills. The measures introduced and acted upon, collectively reflect an agreement between Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. The legislature adopted the majority of the package on Wednesday evening. Those items await the Governor’s signature. The remaining budget bills are expected to be acted upon in the coming days. 

RCRC has compiled key highlights of the latest bills related to the 2024-25 State Budget Package, as they relate to RCRC member counties. Read the highlights here

RCRC Annual Meeting Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open for RCRC’s 2024 Annual Meeting! The conference will be held September 18 –20, 2024 at the Double Tree by Hilton - Sonoma Wine Country in Rohnert Park (Sonoma County). This year’s program will feature experts discussing a wide range of topics from renewable energy permitting to natural resources. Join us for an examination of critical issues shaping California’s future.

Don’t wait - Register today to receive the “Early Bird” rate! 

DOI Announces $621.2 Million in PILT Funding to Support Vital Services in Communities 

On June 26, 2024, the Department of the Interior announced more than 1,900 state and local governments around the country will receive a total of $621.2 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2024. California received approximately $64.3 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes in Fiscal Year 2024. Approximately $42.9 million of those funds have gone to RCRC counties. See a breakdown of payments by county here.  

Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services. PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by the Department’s bureaus including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, PILT payments cover federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission. Payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction and the population of that county or jurisdiction.  

U. S. Senators Announce Legislation to Address Racial Disparities in Health Care Access 

On June 21, 2024, U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced the introduction of their Health Equity Innovation Act of 2024, which intends to address racial disparities in health outcomes by expanding access to preventative health care in underserved communities.  

The bill would establish a new grant program to provide federal funding to faith- and community-based organizations located in federally designated Medically Underserved Areas and Health Professional Shortage Areas -- geographic areas and populations that have limited access to primary care services. Grants would help cover the cost of providing preventative care—including free or low-cost health screenings, vaccinations, family planning services, and mental health services, hiring community health workers, and expanding capacity. Senators Gillibrand and Butler, along with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Alex Padilla (D-CA), requested $50 million for this program to be included in the Fiscal Year 2025 government funding bill.   

Special Feature! Understanding the Pace of Technology and Organizational Change in Rural Government

With the onset of AI, technology is advancing at an exponential rate, requiring organizations to change along with it or risk being left behind. However, for government organizations, particularly in rural areas, adapting to change at such a fast rate can be particularly challenging. In this special feature to the Barbed Wire, Nevada County Information & General Services Agency Director, Steve Monaghan, details the struggle between technological advancement and organizational change for local governments and provides recommendations for moving forward. Read the article here.

The views and opinions expressed in this feature article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Rural County Representatives of California or its affiliates.

RCRC 8th Annual Photo Contest Closes Sunday, June 30th

The RCRC's 8th Annual Rural County Photo Contest closes this Sunday, June 30th! A big thank you to all who have already entered. For those who haven't yet, don't miss your chance to submit your best photographs capturing the essence of rural California – its scenery, activities, communities, history, and charm. Find full details and entry information at https://www.rcrcnet.org/photo-contest.

RCRC AFFILIATE ENTITIES

A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC's affiliated entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities.

 

ESJPA Approves Participating Entity Program

At the most recent convening of the Rural Counties Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority (ESJPA), the Board of Directors unanimously approved a new program to allow public solid waste jurisdictions that are not otherwise eligible to join ESJPA through an RCRC member county to join as participating entities. The new program, which will launch in late 2024/early 2025, will offer all of ESJPA’s services including technical support, advocacy advice, grant assistanceand interface with state and federal agencies and departments to participating entity members.  

Approval of the ESJPA Participating Entity Program is part of the 2023-25 ESJPA Business Plan adopted by the Board in 2022, which included plans to explore the possibility of establishing such a program. ESJPA is looking forward to expanding its reach beyond RCRC throughout the entire state of California.

 

CPUC Awards First Grants from Last Mile FFA Program

On June 7, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced the first awardees for its $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account (FFA) Grant Program. This program aims to bring internet access to underserved communities across the state. This initial announcement is part of a rolling process that will continue throughout the summer and fall.  

A total of $88.6 million across 11 projects was recommended for Commission review and action in the first round, including projects in GSCA-member counties Imperial, Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra. GSCA’s Imperial County Broadband Network project is among those recommended in this round. If approved by the Commission at the July 11, 2024, CPUC meeting, $13.8 million in FFA funds would be dedicated to deployment of an open access, last mile, fiber network in Imperial County that would provide service to nearly 1,900 unserved locations.  

More awards are expected to be announced in the coming months. 

See the GSCA’s full press release here

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

California Department of Technology Requests Stakeholder Feedback by July 2nd

The California Department of Technology (CDT) is seeking the feedback of stakeholders on various components of State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP) implementation, the overall Capacity Grant program structure, and sub-grant program design. Please provide your feedback by completing a questionnaire consisting of 54 questions, which may take about 20-30 minutes to complete.

Questionnaire responses will help CDT shape various components of SDEP Implementation, Capacity Grant program structure, including the design of the capacity sub-grant program, to the extent possible while meeting federal and state requirements. CDT intends to organize more opportunities for stakeholder engagement on program design this summer and release a sub-grant program proposal for formal public comment later this year. 

Please respond by Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Complete the questionnaire here

Questions? Email digitalequity@state.ca.gov

 

Date Change for Public Board Hearing for Proposed Designation of Kaweah Subbasin as Probationary Basin

The State Water Resources Control Board has changed the date for the Public Board Hearing for the Proposed Designation of the Kaweah Subbasin as a Probationary Basin. The probationary hearing will now be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The revised notice reflects this change in date.

The previously scheduled hearing date was the same day as the General Election (November 5, 2024). The date is changed to remove this scheduling conflict and facilitate increased public participation.

The dates for the public workshop and public comment period have not changed. The Public Comment Period Deadline is July 8, 2024, at 12:00 pm noon.

Please see the revised public notice for more detailed information.

 

Employment Opportunities

Mendocino County

Contra Costa County

Contra Costa County is seeking a Senior Deputy County Administrator-Exempt. Current salary range: $140,153.88 - $217,424.64 annually; however, the Board of Supervisors has authorized a 5% COLA effective July 1, 2024 and a second 5% COLA effective July 1, 2025. Currently, this position reports directly to the County Administrator. This position closes at 11:59 p.m. on July 5, 2024. To learn more or to apply, see here.

 

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.

 

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

KEEPING UP

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

Ryan Soden, of Woodland, has been appointed to the 40th District Agricultural Association, Yolo County Fair Board of Directors. Soden has been a Grower Field Representative for Crain of California since 2012. He was an Orchard Farm Manager for the Colusa Indian Community Council from 2008 to 2012. Soden was a Sales Representative and Engineer for Alsco Geyer Irrigation from 2003 to 2008. He is a member of the Yolo County 4-H. Soden earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from California State University, Chico. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Soden is a Republican.

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.

 

Major companies support California home insurance plan – Sacramento Bee

A highly anticipated piece of California’s plan to entice home insurers back into the state received support from representatives of major companies during a public hearing Wednesday.

 

Drinking water of a million people fails CA requirements – CalMatters

Almost 400 water systems serving nearly a million Californians don’t meet state requirements for safe and reliable drinking water supplies — and fixing them would cost billions of dollars. More than two-thirds of these failing water systems serve communities of color, and more than half are in places struggling with poverty and pollution, according to an annual assessment released by the State Water Resources Control Board.

 

Libraries have free passes to California parks under budget deal – Los Angeles Times

The popular state library parks program that began two years ago was on the chopping block this spring, a potential victim of the estimated $45 billion budget deficit for fiscal 2025.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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

AB 6   (Friedman)   Transportation planning: regional transportation plans: 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 Transportation   Status: 6/11/2024-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   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: civil penalties.   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 Appropriations   Status: 6/26/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Judiciary   Status: 6/21/2024-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.   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: 6/5/2024-In committee: Set, second hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.   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 Local Government   Status: 5/22/2024-Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.   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 Third Reading   Status: 6/27/2024-From Consent Calendar. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (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 Enrolled   Status: 6/25/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   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 Judiciary   Status: 6/26/2024-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.   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: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/11/2024-In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2104   (Soria)   Community colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program.     Location: Senate Education   Status: 6/5/2024-Referred to Com. on ED.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2149   (Connolly)   Gates: standards: inspection.     Location: Senate Judiciary   Status: 6/24/2024-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 2199   (Berman)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: residential or mixed-use housing projects.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 6/25/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (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: Senate Third Reading   Status: 6/27/2024-From Consent Calendar. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2302   (Addis)   Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.     Location: Senate Third Reading   Status: 6/6/2024-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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 6/27/2024-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 25).   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 Dead   Status: 5/16/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(8). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/10/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2346   (Lee)   Organic waste reduction regulations: procurement of recovered organic waste products.     Location: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 6/20/2024-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.Q.   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 6/27/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (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 Dead   Status: 5/16/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(8). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2787   (Patterson, Joe)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.     Location: Senate Third Reading   Status: 6/18/2024-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2797   (McKinnor)   Telephone corporations: carriers of last resort: tariffs.   This bill would commence a process, with no oversight, to no longer require any telephone corporation to be a Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) in a specified manner, and discontinue legacy voice service. A telecommunications service provider designated as a COLR has an obligation to provide basic telephone service, commonly landline plain old telephone service (POTS), to any customer in its service territory to ensure universal access to safe, reliable, and affordable telephone service. AB 2797 requires telephone corporations to identify, as part of the relief notice, (1) a census block of the telephone corporation’s service territory where there is no population or where the company has no basic exchange telephone service customers, or (2) a census block designated as urban where 2 or more different service providers offer alternative voice services, as defined, to customers, or both. Alternative technologies have no equivalent consumer protections, such as minimum service quality standards or reliable access to 9-1-1.   Location: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications   Status: 6/12/2024-Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 2902   (Wood)   Organic waste: reduction regulations: exemptions.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 6/20/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Sponsor   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 6/25/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 3238   (Garcia)   California Environmental Quality Act: electrical infrastructure projects.     Location: Senate Environmental Quality   Status: 6/25/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 6/19/2024-June 19 set for second hearing. Placed on suspense file.   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 707   (Newman)   Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024.   Creates a Responsible Textile Recovery Act to require producers to establish a stewardship program for collection and recycling of apparel and textiles that are unsuitable for reuse by a consumer.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 6/10/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (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 Public Safety   Status: 6/11/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (June 11). Re-referred to Com. on 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: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 6/26/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   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: Assembly Revenue and Taxation   Status: 6/3/2024-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: Assembly Transportation   Status: 6/3/2024-Referred to Com. on TRANS.   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: Assembly P. & C.P.   Status: 6/21/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 972   (Min)   Methane emissions: organic waste: landfills.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/19/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (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 Dead   Status: 5/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(6). (Last location was L. GOV. on 2/21/2024)   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: Assembly Revenue and Taxation   Status: 6/26/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1045   (Blakespear)   Composting facilities: zoning.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/26/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1046   (Laird)   Organic waste reduction: program environmental impact report: small and medium compostable material handling facilities or operations.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/26/2024-June 26 hearing postponed by committee.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1060   (Becker)   Property insurance underwriting: risk models.   SB 1060 would encourage 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: Assembly Insurance   Status: 6/26/2024-June 26 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1064   (Laird)   Cannabis: operator and separate premises license types: excessive concentration of licenses.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/25/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1066   (Blakespear)   Hazardous waste: marine flares: producer responsibility.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/26/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/25/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1116   (Portantino)   Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits.     Location: Assembly Insurance   Status: 6/27/2024-June 26 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1143   (Allen)   Household hazardous waste: producer responsibility.     Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 6/26/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/26/2024-Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   No Position   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1159   (Dodd)   California Environmental Quality Act: roadside wildfire risk reduction projects.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/24/2024-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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 6/19/2024-June 19 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1193   (Menjivar)   Airports: leaded aviation gasoline.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/27/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1269   (Padilla)   Safety net hospitals.     Location: Senate Dead   Status: 5/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(6). (Last location was HEALTH on 2/29/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1280   (Laird)   Waste management: propane cylinders: reusable or refillable.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/18/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1361   (Blakespear)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: local agencies: contract for providing services for people experiencing homelessness.     Location: Assembly Consent Calendar   Status: 6/27/2024-Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1420   (Caballero)   Hydrogen.     Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 6/24/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  John (1)