The Barbed Wire - March 19, 2021

RCRC Working with NACo to Ensure California’s Public Lands Counties Receive Aid Via A Special Provision in the American Rescue Plan Act

This week, RCRC’s national advocacy partner, the National Association of Counties (NACo), sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen requesting that “Treasury consult with NACo and state associations of counties in the development of [the] formula” to distribute the $1.5 billion of aid provided to public lands counties as part of the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Biden last week. A key section of the Act, championed by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), tasks the U.S. Treasury with developing the distribution formula that would provide public lands counties additional monies beyond what is provided to each and every county in the U.S. under the Act.  In the Congressional Record, Senator Wyden explicitly stated, “I fully expect Treasury to consult with others in government who have history in this arena on the creation of this new formula such as the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior, as well as the National Association of Counties, state county associations, including the Association of O&C Counties Oregon, and many other groups with a deep understanding of these impacts across the United States.” The $1.5 billion provided in this key section - Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund – should further assist most RCRC member counties that contain large amounts of federally-owned public lands. RCRC looks forward to working with NACo and other state associations of counties to ensure that the final distribution formula properly compensates California’s counties that contain public lands.

Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 11 (Rubio) - The California FAIR Plan Association: Basic Property Insurance: Exclusions

RCRC has expressed support for Senate Bill 11, authored by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Los Angeles), which would remove certain barriers to enable homes and structures used to conduct business on farmland to obtain fire insurance through the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan.  Current law does not technically allow for farm properties to be insured under the FAIR Plan because of how the statute is written; the FAIR plan was originally crafted in the mid-1960’s to be an insurer of last resort for those having difficulty obtaining homeowner’s coverage.  SB 11 would make a change to the statute which would allow for the structures on farmlands to be covered under the FAIR Plan, while clarifying that the coverage does not extend to any agricultural crop risks. This change will allow farmers to obtain coverage for their homes and other structures on their farms in the event that their traditional insurance policies are non-renewed.  RCRC’s letter of support is available here.  For more information, contact Staci Heaton, RCRC Senior Regulatory Affairs Advocate, by email or call (916) 447-4806.

Board of Forestry Releases Updated Fire Safe Regulations Proposal Ahead of Next Week’s Special Meeting

Next Monday, the Board of Forestry (BOF) will hold a special meeting to discuss and possibly approve its Fire Safe Regulations proposal for submission to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL).  Once the proposed rulemaking is published in the Regulatory Notice Register, the formal 45-day public comment period will begin.

The current proposal, released Monday evening, makes substantial changes to the February 8th draft that was just discussed at the March 3rd Board meeting. This revised language continues to condition the rebuilding of homes destroyed by wildfire and appears to expand the number of roads subject to the pre-development upgrade requirements. Several portions of the draft language are unclear and create questions on applicability. RCRC is asking that the BOF delay submission of the proposal to OAL until a robust, inclusive process of collaboration with local government representatives with expertise in land use planning and fire safety has been completed.

The State Fire Safe regulations set forth basic wildfire protection standards for development in the State Responsibility Area and, beginning July 1, 2021, the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones of the Local Responsibility Area.

For updates from the BOF on the Fire Safe Regulations and other activities of the BOF Resource Protection Committee, subscribe to email updates here. And, for more information, please contact Tracy Rhine.

RCRC Joins A Number of California Representatives To Question the Office of Management and Budget’s Proposed Metropolitan Statistical Area Change

On Tuesday, California Representatives David Valadao (D-Hanford), Salud Carbajal (D- Santa Barbara), and Jim Costa (D-Fresno) joined a bipartisan group of 50 members in sending a letter of opposition to the Office of Management and Budget regarding a committee proposal recommending reclassifying Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and thereby doubling the minimum core population threshold from 50,000 to 100,000. This change would affect five California MSAs to lose their status, including Chico (Butte County), Hanford-Corcoran (Kings County), Madera (Madera County), Napa (Napa County), and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles (San Luis Obispo County). 

Although the Office of Management and Budget maintains these MSAs for statistical purposes only, many federal programs rely on these designations to determine policies and funding targeting rural areas and the Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Standards Review Committee specifically did not take that into account.  RCRC submitted a letter expressing concern with this change unless a more in-depth review in undertaken to examine the practical effects, which could have major downstream implications for certain rural communities.  More information can be accessed here. 
 

State Senate Confirms New State Fire Marshal Michael Richwine

On Thursday March 10, 2021, the State Senate confirmed Chief Michael J. Richwine as California State Fire Marshal, completing Richwine's appointment to the post. Richwine was appointed on May 15, 2020 by Governor Gavin Newsom after serving as Acting State Fire Marshal since December 2018. Prior to his appointment, Chief Richwine served as Assistant State Fire Marshal and held a variety of positions in the Office of the State Fire Marshal during 38 years of service.

RCRC supported Chief Richwine’s confirmation due to his long history of partnering with RCRC member counties on implementation of new building and siting standards for fire prevention. Richwine has long made himself and his staff available to RCRC member counties to work through issues unique to rural California while working closely with RCRC staff during the development of new building codes and standards. RCRC congratulates Chief Richwine on his appointment and looks forward to continuing a productive working relationship with the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

RCRC’s letter of support for Chief Richwine’s confirmation can be viewed here.

House, Senate Democrats Unveil $94 Billion Bill to Improve Internet Access

Last week, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-South Carolina) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) reintroduced the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act which would invest $94 billion into expanding broadband infrastructure and connecting Americans. Such an investment marks one of the most expensive and ambitious broadband packages proposed in recent years and gives preference to projects that help rural and tribal areas or those that provide better, cheaper Internet to lower-income communities. The legislation would also add an extra $2 billion to the $7 billion in funding for the E-Rate program that was included in the American Rescue Plan which President Biden signed into law on Thursday. The E-Rate program helps schools and libraries buy Wi-Fi hot spots and routers, devices that have only become more essential during the pandemic. 

RCRC Comments on Additional CPUC De-Energization Guidelines

This week, RCRC submitted comments to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) responding to a proposal to update guidelines that govern Public Safety Power Shut-off (PSPS) events. PSPS events allow electrical utilities to proactively de-energize powerlines during extreme weather events to potentially ward off wildfire risk caused by electric infrastructure. RCRC acknowledges the need for strategic and thoughtful implementation of PSPS events as a last resort, but because of the far-reaching downstream consequences of electrical outages and unreliable power, PSPS events should be consistently executed and examined with robust oversight.  

While RCRC originally anticipated that Phase 3 would focus on consolidating all of the existing rules into a single, standalone document, the CPUC instead decided that they need to make some significant adjustments to those rules first. RCRC supports many of the proposed changes and notes that they incorporate many of the suggestions offered by RCRC over the last year, including:

• Placement, operation, and services offered by Community Resource Centers
• Designation of food banks, local elections operations, and community centers
• Mitigation of impacts to sensitive populations
• Notification and reporting requirements

RCRC suggested the CPUC consider consolidating all the existing PSPS guidelines into one single general for simplicity and transparency. RCRC also suggested that the CPUC focus on pushing utilities to undertake actions to reduce the size, scope, duration, and frequency of PSPS events. RCRC’s comments can be accessed here.
 

House Republicans Lift Ban on Appropriations “Earmarks”

On Wednesday, the House Republican caucus voted to participate in House Democrats’ plans to allow each Member of Congress to submit up to ten “community project funding” requests (also known as ‘earmarks’) for fiscal year 2022 funding bills.  Many Republicans believe they would be at a huge disadvantage if they decided not to participate in earmarks while Democrats reaped the rewards of the spending practice.  Such proposed spending practices have specified limits and transparency requirements.  Congress banned earmarks ten years ago, and the Senate has not said yet whether it will participate this year or not.  However, earmark proponents have argued that allowing lawmakers to ensure money for specific projects would restore power to the legislative branch and shift it away from the executive branch.

Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act Reintroduced

On Thursday, Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-Colorado) reintroduced the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2021. The bill was authored by Representative Perlmutter and co-sponsored by more than 100 members, including RCRC Delegation members: Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel); Juan Vargas (D-San Diego); Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara); Jared Huffman (D-Marina); John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove); and, Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove).  Crucially, the bill would allow cannabis-related businesses in states with robust regulatory structures to access the banking system.  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and other Congressional Democrat leaders have expressed their desire to address cannabis legislation in this Congress; however it remains to be seen if and when the Senate would take up such a measure.  RCRC sent a letter of support for the bill’s reintroduction, which was shared by Representative Perlmutter’s office (the press release can be accessed here; RCRC’s letter of support can be accessed here).

GO-Biz Awards Cannabis Equity Grant Recipients to Multiple Rural Jurisdictions

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has announced the award winners of Cannabis Equity Grants for local programs, of which $15 million was available in the form of low/no-interest loans or grants. Cannabis Equity Grants seek to eliminate barriers for populations that were disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition by providing funding to local jurisdictions for programs to assist cannabis applicants and licensees gain entry into the state’s regulated marketplace. The counties of Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino received funding for their programs, while Sonoma and Trinity counties received grants to develop a local equity program. To date, the state has invested $40 million in cannabis equity funding. For more information, see here. 

New Episodes of Hometown California Coming Soon from Washington D.C.

Tune in next week for a new episode of Hometown California when RCRC’s Vice President for Governmental Affairs, Paul A. Smith, visits Washington D.C. and catches up with Leah Askarinam of the National Journal about the Body Politic in the nation’s capital. And, in a later episode, hear his conversation with RCRC’s federal lobbyists of the American Continental Group, Sheryl Cohen and Chris Israel, about the early days of the 117th Congress. While you wait, catch Hometown California Episode 24: What Is Up With the Recall Election of Governor Newsom. Find all the episodes of Hometown California right here.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

California Air Resources Board to Examine Changes to Small Off-Road Engine Regulations

On March 24th, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold a virtual workshop (from 10am to Noon) to discuss potential changes to the Small Off-Road Engine (SORE) Regulations, such as tighter emission standards and transition to zero-emission equipment. SORE—19 kilowatts or less—are often used in lawn and garden equipment, industrial equipment and specialty vehicles. For more information on SORE, including meeting details, see here. CARB will answer questions at this workshop and accept written public comments on the SORE Workshop no later than April 8, 2021.

CAL FIRE to Host Online Workshops: Fire Prevention and Forest Health Grants

CAL FIRE will host online workshops regarding fire prevention and forest health grants.Due to COVID-19 restrictions, participation will be limited to online workshops via Microsoft Teams. NO registration is necessary.
  
Fire Prevention

• March 25, 2021, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM PDT

Microsoft Teams meeting | Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only) +1 650-564-3271,,710970321#
Phone Conference ID: 710 970 321#
 

Visit the Fire Prevention Grants webpage for Grants Guidelines & a recording of the workshop

Forest Health, Forest Legacy & Research

• April 7, 2021, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM PDT

Microsoft Teams meeting | Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only) +1 650-564-3271,,969798025#
Phone Conference ID: 969 798 025#

Visit the Forest Health Grants webpage for Grants Guidelines & a recording of the workshop.

Plumas County Seeks Redistricting Consultant Services

Plumas County has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking professional redistricting consultant services. The submission deadline is 3:00 p.m. on April 7, 2021. More information is available here.

California Air Resources Board Offers Webinars on Regulatory Compliance Training

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is offering a variety of training webinars for regulatory compliance on issues affecting public fleets such as Off-Road Regulations, Truck and Bus Rules, and Diesel Truck Rules. 

The In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation (Off-Road Regulation) requires fleet owners to report to CARB, label their off-road vehicles, and reduce emissions from older equipment.  This course provides detailed information to help fleet owners understand and comply with the Off-Road Regulation: 

Date:               March 25, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

Date:               May 13, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

The CARB Diesel Truck Rules course will discuss compliance options and reporting requirements for 2021 and beyond for those that own, operate or dispatch heavy-duty diesel trucks in California. If your vehicles are not compliant, you need to know what the current and future requirements are. If your vehicles are compliant, you may need to report to remain compliant. 

Date:               April 29, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

CARB’s Air Regulatory Overview for Public Agencies course provides training to for public agency employees and fleet managers about the basic regulatory requirements for heavy-duty diesel vehicles and provide awareness on which elements of the regulations these agencies may be accountable for, such as idling limitations; On-Road Public Fleet Regulation; In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation; Periodic Smoke Inspection Program; & Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP). 

Date:               April 1, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

The Compliance Overview: Truck & Bus Rule, Off-Road Regulation, and Portable Equipment course includes the following topics:

Truck and Bus Regulation:

• Regulation Applicability
• Engine Model Year Schedule
• Exemptions & Extensions
• How to Report for Regulation Flexibilities
• Broker and Dispatcher Requirements
• DMV Registration

Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP):

• Regulation Applicability
• Program Updates

Advanced Clean Truck (ACT):

• Manufacturers ZEV Sales Requirements
• One-Time Reporting
• Future ZEV Rules

In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation:

• Regulation Applicability
• Requirements Currently in Effect
• Future Compliance Deadlines

Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) & Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM):

• PERP Eligibility
• Program Requirements
• ATCM Program & Updates
• Enforcement & Inspections

Date:               April 22, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

California Public Utilities Commission to Hold Workshop on Execution of 2020 PSPS Events

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold an upcoming public workshop with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and PacifiCorp on the execution of their 2020 Public Safety Power Shut-off (PSPS) events; Southern California Edison will participate in the latter half of the workshop. This workshop will include two roundtable discussions covering local government, tribes, and the Access and Functional Needs community. More information, including a full agenda, will be made available here. 

WHEN: Monday, March 29, 2021 from 9am to 5pm
WHERE: Online viewing only. Webcast available here.
HOW: To participate and make public comments, the call-in number is 1-800-857-1917, passcode is 5180519.

Save the Date for Forest Stewardship Workshop

The University of California Cooperative Extension has announced upcoming training opportunities to help landowners develop sustainable plans to improve and protect their forest lands. Online workshops will be offered weekly from March 22, 2021 through May 27, 2021, with an in-person session scheduled in Humboldt County on Saturday, April 24, 2021. For more information, see here.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ASSISTANCE

Resource pages, deadline extensions, and available programs to assist communities impacted by COVID-19.

DWR Provides Tips for Holding Online Meetings to Address Groundwater Sustainability Plans

As Groundwater Sustainability Plans are being developed to meet the January 2022 deadline, several counties (and water agencies) have asked for advice for engaging stakeholders and interested parties through online resources.  In response to community interest, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Sustainable Groundwater Management Office has put together examples, tips, and tactics to consider. The DWR tips are available here.

Coronavirus Relief Available from the Small Business Administration

The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering several coronavirus relief options to help alleviate the financial hardships resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The programs have received an overwhelming number of applications from businesses, so be sure to check the SBA website for the latest updates on the status of these programs.

• The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. After initial funding was quickly depleted, the program received an infusion of an additional $310 billion, allowing the SBA to resume the program on April 27, 2020. Be sure to check the SBA website for the most recent information on the application process and availability of funds.
• The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance provides up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.
• SBA Express Bridge Loans can be used to bridge the gap for businesses while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan; small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
• SBA Debt Relief provides a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are interested in programs for other disasters, the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance portal is available here.

Economic Development Resources for Communities and Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus

The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) has assembled resources for communities and business impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). The page will be continually evolving as new resources become available. To go directly to the CALED resources, click here.

Use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for Infectious Disease Response

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may be used for a range of eligible activities that prevent and respond to the spread of infectious diseases such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Check out the Quick Guide to CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Infectious Disease Response for guidance and additional information.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) County Resource Page Available

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), RCRC’s local government partner, continues to provide excellent up-to-date state and federal information to counties on this ever-changing pandemic event.  We encourage visiting CSAC’s COVID-19 resource page, which contains vital links to all CSAC COVID-19 advocacy letters and resources.  CSAC’s staff continues to work around the clock to update activities so that all of California’s counties can remain properly informed.

LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE

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

ACR 33 (Friedman): Wildfire mitigation: Wildfire mitigation: ACR 33 would state the Legislature’s commitment to improving wildfire outcomes in the State of California by investing in science-based wildfire mitigation strategies that will benefit the health of California forests and communities. The measure would also state that the Legislature calls upon public and private stakeholders to work jointly to identify, discuss, and refine, as necessary, procedures concerning treatment of forested lands for the purpose of, among other things, wildfire risk mitigation. Status: ACR 33 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1 (C. Garcia): Hazardous Waste: Assembly Bill 1 establishes several new governance, policy, and fiscal reforms to improve the Department of Toxic Substances Control, including significantly increasing several fees and repealing several important fee exemptions. Status: AB 1 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 267 (Valladeres): California Environmental Quality Act: Assembly Bill 267 exempts from the requirements of CEQA prescribed fire, thinning, or fuel reduction projects undertaken on federal lands to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as provided. Status: AB 267 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 297 (Gallagher) Fire Prevention. Increases funding for forest health improvement and wildfire risk reduction projects and makes other substantive changes to help expedite project completion.  Status: AB 1403 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 318 (Levine): Hazardous waste: Assembly Bill 318 excludes from classification as hazardous waste green waste that has not been contaminated by a hazardous or toxic chemical during production, harvest, or processing.  Requires those green wastes to be disposed in a permitted solid or hazardous waste landfill or composting operation.  Status:  AB 318 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status:  Pending

Assembly Bill 322 (Salas): Energy: Electric Program Investment Charge program: Requires the Energy Commission to allocate at least 20% of all funds appropriated for the Electric Program Investment Charge program (roughly $25 million annually) to bioenergy projects for biomass conversion. Status: AB 322 is awaiting consideration in the Assembly Utilities and Energy and Natural Resources Committees.  RCRC Status: Support 

Assembly Bill 332 (ESTM): Hazardous waste: treated wood waste: Seeks to reestablish a statutory pathway for the alternative management and disposal of treated wood waste in a landfill.  Status:  AB 332 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.  RCRC Status:  Support.

Assembly Bill 497 (Walderon): Forestry and fire protection: local assistance grant program: Assembly Bill 497 requires the department, for purposes of this appropriation, to prioritize projects, in addition to the priorities specified above, that manage vegetation along streets and roads to prevent the ignition of wildfire and that require the funds for purposes of purchasing equipment necessary for the project. Status: AB 497 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 648 (Fong) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Healthy Forest and Fire Prevention: Appropriation. Continuously appropriates $200 million annually for forest health improvement and wildfire risk reduction projects Status: AB 648 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 759 (McCarty): Elections: county officers: Assembly Bill 759 would require an election for all county-wide offices (sheriff, assessor, district attorney, etc.) be held at the presidential general election.  Initially, this bill only applied to the county sheriff but recent amendments expand it to all county-wide offices.  In addition, this bill would require that these officeholder elections occur at the 2024 General Election thereby requiring affected officeholders to hold a two-year term (assuming election in 2022).  Status: AB 759 awaits consideration from the Assembly Elections Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 819 (Levine) Requires lead agencies to post California Environmental Quality Act notices and documents on their internet websites and to submit CEQA documents to the State Clearinghouse in electronic form.  Status: AB 819 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 843 (Aguiar-Curry) Allows Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) to access the CPUC BioMAT program that provides funding for renewable bioenergy electricity projects, including biomass and biogas. Status: AB 843 awaits consideration from the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 881 (Gonzalez) Repeals the ability for local governments to claim diversion credit for mixed plastic waste that is exported for recycling. Status: AB 881 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 910 (Bigelow): Forestry: Small Timberland Owner Exemption.  Assembly Bill 910 would repeal the limitation on authority of the department to grant no more than 3 Small Timberland Owner Exemptions to each landowner. The bill would authorize the construction or reconstruction of temporary roads on slopes of 30 percent or less that meet certain requirements under the Small Timberland Owner Exemption. Status: AB 910 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 912 (Bigelow):The bill would revise the definition of “working forest management plan” to allow multiple working forest landowners to submit a working forest management plan, but provide that the plan may cover no more than 15,000 acres of timberland. The bill would also make non-substantive changes to other definitions applicable to working forest management plans. Status: AB 912 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.  RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1078 (Patterson) 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.  Status: AB 1078 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1086 (Aguiar-Curry) Requires the state to prepare an implementation strategy to achieve the state’s organic waste, climate change, and air quality mandates, goals, and targets.  Status: AB 1086 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Pending.

Assembly Bill 1154 (Patterson) Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act egress route projects undertaken by a public agency and that are recommended by the Board of Forestry to improve fire safety of an existing subdivision.  Status: AB 1154 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1277 (Rubio) Expedites the litigation timeline for challenges to student housing projects brought under the California Environmental Quality Act.  Status: AB 1277 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources and Judicial Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1311 (Wood) Will seek to made modest changes to the Beverage Container Recycling Act to increase consumer access to redemption opportunities. Status: AB 1311 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1325 (Burke) Requires the CPUC to develop a Clean Community Microgrid Incentive Program to fund community microgrids that support the critical needs of vulnerable communities that utilize distributed energy resources for the generation of electricity. Status: AB 1325 awaits consideration from the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1350 (Patterson) Until 1/1/2025, exempts businesses with 50-100 employees from having to pay the Environmental Fee, which funds oversight of hazardous waste management and disposal and to remediate orphan and legacy contaminated properties. Status: AB 1350 awaits consideration from the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1403 (Levine) Emergency Services. AB 1403 clarifies that deenergization events (also known as PSPS events) qualify as events for which a state of emergency or local emergency can be declared under the California Emergency Services Act. Status: AB 1403 awaits consideration in the Assembly Emergency Management Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1431 (Fraizer): Forestry: forest carbon plan: state goals: Assembly Bill 1431 requires the Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency, on or before January 1, 2023, to submit a report to the appropriate policy and budget committees of the Legislature on the positions and resources needed to achieve those state goals. Status: AB 1431 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1458 (Fraizer): Fish and wildlife protection and conservation: lake and streambed alteration agreements: Assembly Bill 1458 prohibits a person, a state or local governmental agency, or a public utility from substantially diverting or obstructing the natural flow of, or substantially changing or using any material from the bed, channel, or bank of, any river, stream, or lake, or depositing or disposing of debris, waste, or other material containing crumbled, flaked, or ground pavement where it may pass into any river, stream, or lake, unless prescribed requirements are met, including written notification to the Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding the activity. Status: AB 1458 awaits consideration from the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 11 (Rubio): The California FAIR Plan Association: basic property insurance: Senate Bill 11, which would remove certain barriers to enable homes and structures used to conduct business on farmland to be covered through the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan.  Status: SB 11 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 30 (Cortese): Building Decarbonization: Prohibits state agencies from designing or constructing a state facility that is connected to the natural gas grid and prohibits state agencies from funding projects for the construction of residential and nonresidential buildings that are connected to the natural gas grid. Status: Senate Bill 30 awaits consideration by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 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. Status: SB 38 awaits consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 42 (Wieckowski): Department of Toxic Substances Control:  Establishes a new Board of Environmental safety to oversee the Department of Toxic Substances Control, consider permit appeals, and propose regulatory changes and establishes an ombudsperson to make and receive public complaints and suggestions.  SB 42 is anticipated to be amended to also include many of the fiscal changes suggested by the Administration to address DTSC’s structural deficit. Status: SB 42 awaits consideration by the Senate Environmental Quality committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 52 (Dodd): State of Emergency: Power Outages. Senate Bill 52 clarifies that deenergization events (also known as PSPS events) qualify as events for which a state of emergency or local emergency can be declared under the California Emergency Services Act. Status: SB 52 awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 99 (Dodd): Community Energy Resilience Act of 2021: Senate Bill 99 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. It also sets forth guiding principles for plan development, including equitable access to reliable energy and integration with other existing local planning documents. Status: SB 99 awaits consideration in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.  RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 207 (Dahle): Photovoltaic Recycling Advisory Group: Senate Bill 207 seeks to spur the recycling and reuse of solar photovoltaic panels by requiring an advisory group to make recommendations to ensure that, to the extent possible, all solar photovoltaic panels in the state are reused or recycled at the end of their lives in a safe and cost-effective manner. Status: SB 207 awaits consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status:  Support

Senate Bill 244 (Archuleta): Lithium-ion batteries: illegal disposal: fire prevention: Senate Bill seeks to prevent lithium-ion battery fires by requiring the state to develop training and best practices for the detection, safe handling, and suppression of fires that originate from discarded lithium-ion batteries in solid waste collection vehicles, transfer and processing stations, and disposal facilities.  Status: SB 244 awaits consideration from the Senate Environmental Quality and Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 261 (Allen) Regional Transportation Plans:  Sustainable Communities Strategies.  Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt new greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction targets for incorporation into the sustainable communities strategies prepared by the state’s 18 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).  Status: SB 261 awaits consideration in the Senate Transportation Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose

Senate Bill 289 (Newman) Recycling: batteries and battery-embedded products.: Requires producers of battery and battery-embedded products to create stewardship organizations and programs for the collection, transportation, and recycling of those products. Status: SB 289 awaits consideration in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.    RCRC Status:  Pending

Senate Bill 341 (McGuire) Makes several changes to increase oversight and accountability of telecommunications service outages. Status: SB 341 awaits consideration from the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Status: Support 

Senate Bill 343 (Allen) Prohibits the sale of any product or packaging using a deceptive or misleading claim about its recyclability, including using the chasing arrows symbol unless CalRecycle determines the product or packaging is recyclable.  Requires CalRecycle to identify the types of plastic products and packaging from which a claim of recyclability may be made. Status: SB 343 awaits consideration from the Senate Judiciary Committee. RCRC Status: Pending 

Senate Bill 462 (Borgeas): Disaster relief: Creek Fire: allocation to local agencies: Senate Bill 462, which would add the Creek Fire of 2020 in Madera County and Fresno County to the emergencies eligible for the state to pay up to 100 percent of the costs out of the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) fund. Status: Awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 533 (Stern) Require electrical corporations to ensure electrical transmission and distribution systems achieve the highest level of safety, reliability, and resiliency by modernizing, upgrading, replacing, hardening, or undergrounding any portion of its transmission and distribution wires or poles that experiences a specified number of recurring deenergization events.  Requires the CPUC to create a database of critical facilities, infrastructure, and circuits located in high fire threat districts. Status: SB 533 awaits consideration from the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. RCRC Status: Pending 

Senate Bill 580 (Hueso) Authorizes the state to study the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and environmental benefits of including recycled plastics in asphalt used as a paving material in the construction, maintenance, or rehabilitation of a highway or rad. Status:  SB 580 awaits consideration from the Senate Transportation Committee. RCRC Status: Watch 

Senate Bill 619 (Laird) Will seek to provide local governments with additional flexibility and funding to achieve the state’s organic waste recycling requirements.  Status: SB 619 awaits consideration from the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Support