The Barbed Wire - June 21, 2024

June 20, 2024
California Supreme Court Removes "Taxpayer Protection Act" from November Ballot
Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 2797 (McKinnor) – Telephone Corporations: Carriers of Last Resort
RCRC Testifies at Assembly Committee on Permitting Reform
RCRC Continues to Advocate for Improved Energy Capacity and Utility Coordination with Local Governments
RCRC to Host "Wildfire Preparedness Communications for Rural County Leaders" Webinar
U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation to Stop Labor and Delivery Unit Closures in Rural and Underserved Communities
USDA Forest Service Seeks Public Comment on Draft Guidance for Old Growth Management on National Forests
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP
WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

California Supreme Court Removes "Taxpayer Protection Act" from November Ballot

The “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” (TPA) was an initiative sponsored by the California Business Roundtable, which obtained enough signatures to qualify for the November 2024 ballot. The TPA would have made numerous changes to the process set forth in the state constitution for enacting state and local taxes, with far reaching consequences for every level of government, including rural counties.  

The measure was challenged by Governor Newsom and the Legislature, who sued in the California Supreme Court alleging that constitutional changes made by the TPA were so significant that they crossed the line from an ordinary "amendment" (which may be made by initiative) to a wholesale constitutional "revision" (which must be proposed to the voters either by supermajority vote of the Legislature or by a constitutional convention).  

The State Supreme Court agreed that "[t]he changes proposed by the TPA...would substantially alter our basic plan of government" and therefore "the proposal cannot be enacted by initiative," and ordered that the TPA be removed from the November ballot. 

The Court focused on three specific areas in which "the TPA would transform" the state constitution:  

  1. The proposed requirement that the Legislature obtain voter approval for any new state taxes;  

  2. the proposed requirement that any new state "exempt charges" (e.g., user fees) be approved by the Legislature (and thus subject to referendum), rather than by administrative agencies; and 

  1. the proposed restrictions upon "the authority of local government agencies to set fees without legislative approval or the possibility of referendum."  

With respect to the first area, the court held that "requiring any new or higher [state] tax levy to undergo voter approval would significantly alter the existing constitutional balance between direct democracy and representative democracy, with reverberations throughout the framework of our government...the TPA would substantially transform the process for enacting new statewide tax legislation that has existed since the state’s founding and...this transformation weighs significantly in favor of finding that the TPA would effect a constitutional revision."  

In the second area, the court similarly found that “the TPA would significantly rework the current balance between legislative and executive functions." "[T]he Legislature today is authorized to decide whether to set certain fees itself or to delegate the task to various agencies...legislative delegation of power to administrative agencies is permissible, widespread, and fundamental to the operation of government...Shifting the authority to impose any such fees or other charges from administrative agencies to the Legislature would materially reshape the nature and volume of the Legislature’s everyday work and its overall function and efficacy in our system of governance."  

In the third area, the Supreme Court's approach to the TPA's various restrictions upon local taxes and fees was more restrained. The court noted that "[t]o the extent that the TPA would subject local tax measures to heightened voter approval requirements or make local governments more dependent on appropriations from the Legislature, we conclude that these changes by themselves have limited significance." However, the Court was more concerned with the proposed requirement that all local "exempt charges" must be approved by the agency's governing body (and thus be subject to referendum). "By substantially altering the power of local governments to delegate decision-making authority to their own agencies, the TPA would operate in a manner dissimilar to any of the prior initiatives that have restricted local governments’ ability to raise revenue...[R]eassignment of local fee-setting from administrative to legislative processes would substantially alter the processes by which local governments raise revenue and, in so doing, would significantly alter the work of local government itself." "Such changes would substantially overhaul how local governments go about ensuring that everyday services are properly provided.  In sum, the TPA would affect all local revenue measures — big or small, essential or nonessential — to an extent that leaves no aspect of government untouched."  

The court was careful to note that it was deciding "only whether the measure, taken as a whole, would accomplish a revision. Whether any individual component of the TPA would constitute a revision standing alone is a question we do not answer here." Therefore, although the TPA will not appear on the November 2024 ballot, the possibility remains open that some of these provisions may reappear as part of initiative measures presented at future elections.

For additional background information, see here or contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Sarah Dukett. For questions about the synopsis of the court decision, contact RCRC Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Mary-Ann Warmerdam or RCRC General Counsel, Arthur Wylene.

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 2797 (McKinnor) – Telephone Corporations: Carriers of Last Resort

RCRC opposes Assembly Bill 2797 (McKinnor), which begins a process for a Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) telephone service provider to abandon basic telephone service in specified conditions. AB 2797 relieves any provider (see a map of service territories here) when it sends a notice—not subject to verification—to the CPUC stating it currently either 1) has no customers or population in a census block, or 2) the census block (see here) is served by at least two other alternative voice services, such as internet-based wireline service, or wireless service.

COLR status ensures the availability of basic “plain old telephone service” (POTS) to any residential or business customer in its service territory to ensure universal access to safe, reliable, and affordable telephone service. POTS also has a uniform set of minimum service standards and regulations that does not extend to new technologies that provide similar service, such as wireline VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) or wireless phones. There is no process established by AB 2797 to dispute errors or reject COLR relief that gets “noticed” by a telecommunications carrier, nor are alternative services purportedly available required to serve a customer in the future (e.g., restore service post natural disaster). 

AB 2797 is largely a response to the CPUC’s rejection of AT&T’s controversial Application for COLR relief. On June 20th, the CPUC unanimously voted to reject AT&T’s Application (with prejudice) and opened a new proceeding to contemplate holistic updates and potential changes to COLR rules. 

While RCRC supports the evolution to more advanced technologies for internet and voice services that provide reliability, redundancy and ubiquitous access to connectivity, AB 2797, unfortunately, does not provide a transition process for these communities to receive these modern telecommunications. Rather, it is a process for companies to abandon essential services, at the cost of public safety and consumer safeguards. 

See RCRC’s letter of opposition, here. AB 2797 has been referred to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communication Committee and will be heard on July 2nd. For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Tracy Rhine.  

RCRC Testifies at Assembly Committee on Permitting Reform

On Tuesday, June 18th, RCRC was invited to testify before the Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform’s first hearing on the topic of “Understanding the Permitting Impediments to Addressing the Housing and Climate Crises.” 

The hearing included panelists from diverse housing, clean energy, wildfire, and water backgrounds.  Much of the stakeholder testimony focused on the challenges dealing with state bureaucracy, redundant environmental reviews, competing environmental objectives, and the California Environmental Quality Act.   

Tuesday’s hearing was the first of several on the topic, as the Committee takes a deep dive into identifying ways to improve state and local permitting for housing; energy; water; forest health improvement; and wildfire risk reduction projects.  The Committee is also planning to interview numerous stakeholders on these issues as it develops policy recommendations for the Legislature’s consideration. 

At the hearing, RCRC noted that locals are often caught in the middle on permitting challenges, being invested with land use authority for many projects but also having to undertake projects that are subject to numerous state and federal permitting processes.  RCRC’s John Kennedy spoke about the efforts RCRC, CSAC, and Cal Cities are taking to improve local renewable energy permitting, share best management practices, and increase local permitting capacity.  Next, Kennedy spoke of the many struggles rural jurisdictions face in trying to obtain timely permits or responses from agencies like the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to undertake vital maintenance and public safety improvement projects.  In closing, Kennedy spoke of the lingering challenges, bureaucratic obstacles, and opportunities for improvement related to conducting forest health improvement and wildfire risk reduction projects. 

RCRC will continue to engage with the Committee to dive deeper into the issues.  RCRC strongly encourages local governments to contact John Kennedy to share any permitting challenges they have experienced or offer any suggestions for permitting reform

For more information, or to share about your local government permitting challenges or suggest reforms, contact John Kennedy, RCRC Senior Policy Advocate. 

RCRC Continues to Advocate for Improved Energy Capacity and Utility Coordination with Local Governments

On Tuesday, June 18th, RCRC weighed in on a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Staff Proposal to improve the energy distribution planning and project execution processes for investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to accommodate the anticipated increase in load growth from Distributed Energy Resources (DER). RCRC has heard from numerous counties regarding unreasonable utility delays in connecting new residential, commercial, and industrial development to the grid, as well as years-long delays with improving distribution systems for additional energy capacity to support normal growth and facilitate economic development. The Staff Proposal integrates recent RCRC-supported legislation—AB 50 (Wood) and SB 410 (Becker) from 2023—to improve utility distribution planning processes. 

Key objectives of the Staff Proposal include: proactive distribution planning; incorporating new “bottom-up” data and flexibility (such as allowing utilities to use known load data to determine growth in distribution planning reports); improve forecasting; and improved coordination as well as data sharing with a variety of stakeholders. RCRC supports a more responsive, forward-looking distribution planning and execution framework to balance timely energization needs and power sources with ratepayer affordability. RCRC’s comments can be viewed here.  

For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate John Kennedy, or RCRC Policy Advocate Leigh Kammerich

RCRC to Host "Wildfire Preparedness Communications for Rural County Leaders" Webinar

On June 27th, join RCRC for a free, informative webinar titled, "Wildfire Preparedness Communications for Rural County Leaders". Hosted by RCRC, and featuring Senior Advisor, Sonya Harris of Listos California, this webinar will provide valuable insights on how local governments can improve communication, identify community needs, utilize creative storytelling, build coalitions, and access Listos' wildfire preparedness resources in anticipation of fire season.

Date: Thursday, June 27, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Register Here | See Flyer Here

U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation to Stop Labor and Delivery Unit Closures in Rural and Underserved Communities

On Monday, June 17th, a group of sixteen U.S. Senators released draft legislation to address the rising trend of rural hospitals and hospitals in underserved areas closing their labor and delivery units, which holds significant consequences for expectant parents, families, and the local communities. (Summary and section-by-section | Full text

The proposal, titled the Keep Obstetrics Local Act (KOLA), would increase Medicaid payment rates for labor and delivery services for eligible rural and high-need urban hospitals; provide “standby” payments to cover the costs of staffing and maintaining an obstetrics unit at low-volume hospitals; create low-volume payment adjustments for labor and delivery services at hospitals with low birth volumes; and, require all states to provide postpartum coverage for women in Medicaid for 12 months, among other steps. The proposal ensures that hospitals are required to use the additional resources it provides to invest in the maternal health care needs of the local communities they serve. 

The proposal has been endorsed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, America’s Essential Hospitals, Catholic Hospital Association, Community Catalyst, Families USA, Hospital Association of Oregon, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Rural Health Association, and the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative. For more information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate Sarah Dukett.

USDA Forest Service Seeks Public Comment on Draft Guidance for Old Growth Management on National Forests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has taken the next step to advance the Administration’s commitment to conserve old growth forests, by publishing a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed national old growth forest plan amendment. The proposed amendment is available on the Forest Service website here, and is open for public comment for 90 days following publication in the federal register. 

The purpose of this amendment is to provide consistent guidance for the stewardship, conservation, and recruitment of old growth across national forests. The proposed amendment highlights the importance of proactive stewardship actions in managing threats to old growth forests, and to reduce wildfire risk, considering current and emerging climate-driven threats. It also calls for adaptive management strategies to be developed using local, geographically relevant information and the best available science, including Indigenous Knowledge. 

“Recent scientific analysis shows us that many old-growth forests are under significant threat from climate change,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Forest Service’s plan will help safeguard these iconic stands of trees through science-based management and conservation strategies that can be adapted to unique local circumstances on national forests. USDA is looking forward to receiving feedback on today’s draft proposal from Tribal, state and local governments, industry partners, conservation organizations, and many others; all of whom will be critical partners in the forest management and conservation actions needed to ensure the maintenance and growth of old-growth forests into the future.” 

RCRC has participated in the Old Growth Management proposal since it was first announced in December 2023, and will continue to work with member counties, NACo and other partners to ensure the USDA Forest Service properly engages counties in the Old Growth Amendment process. For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

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:

  • June 24, 2024 – Online Public Workshop
  • June 27, 2024 – In-Person Public Workshop in Visalia
  • July 8, 2024, at 12:00 pm noon – Public Comment Period Deadline

Please see the revised public notice for more detailed information.

 

Employment Opportunities

Mendocino County

 

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.

Ian Bastek, of Roseville, has been appointed Deputy Director of Response in the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Bastek has been Captain and Commanding Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard, Air Station Sacramento since 2021. He was Captain/U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Task Force East Liaison Officer with the U.S. Coast Guard, NORAD and USNORTHCOM from 2019 to 2021. Bastek was a Commander and Executive Officer with the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Training Center from 2018 to 2019 and was Commander and Operations Officer there from 2016 to 2018. He was Commander and Fixed Wing Platform and Sensors Division Chief with the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Capabilities Directorate within the Office of Aviation Forces from 2014 to 2016. He was Lieutenant Commander and Long-Range Surveillance Aircraft Platform Manager with the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Capabilities Directorate within the Office of Aviation Forces from 2012 to 2014. Bastek was Lieutenant Commander and HC-144 Standardization Branch Assistant Branch Chief with the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Training Center from 2008 to 2012. He was Lieutenant Commander, Flight Safety Department Head, Fixed Wing Flight Safety Officer, and HC-130H Duty Pilot with the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City from 2004 to 2008. Bastek was Lieutenant, HC-130H Duty Pilot, Ground Safety Office, Facilities Budget and Contracts Officer with the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point from 2000 to 2004. He was Lieutenant Junior Grade and Student Pilot with the U.S. Coast Guard Sponsored Flight Training from 1999 to 2000. Bastek was Lieutenant Junior Grade, Deck Watch Officer and Law Enforcement Officer with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Planetree from 1997 to 1999. He is a member of the National Gay Pilots Association, Military Officers Association of America, and the Coast Guard Aviation Association. Bastek earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $175,596. Bastek is a Democrat.

Ryan Briscoe Young, of Davis, has been appointed Deputy Public Advisor at the California Energy Commission. Young was Policy Director at Dream Corps from 2022 to 2023. He served in several roles for the City and County of San Francisco from 2014 to 2022, including Senior Community Development Specialist and Contract Compliance Officer in the General Services Agency, Contract Monitoring Division. Young was Legal Counsel at The Greenlining Institute from 2010 to 2014. He was a Fellow at Urban Habitat Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute from 2011 to 2012 and a Legal Intern at the California Public Utilities Commission from 2009 to 2010. Young was a Law Clerk at the U.S. Department of Justice in 2008. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $140,004. Young is a Democrat.

Laila DeRouen, of Santa Rosa, has been appointed Director of the Office of Tribal Affairs at the California Department of Social Services, where she has been Acting Director since 2024 and has served in several positions since 2021, including Staff Services Manager and Central Indian Child Welfare Act Field Liaison. She was an Indian Child Welfare Act Advocate IV at the Indian Child and Family Preservation Program from 2005 to 2021. DeRouen was a Youth Connection Specialist for the Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County from 2008 to 2010. She was a Marketing Assistant for River Rock Casino from 2002 to 2005. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $115,932. DeRouen is a Democrat.

Brandon Price, of Hanford, has been appointed Chief of Hospital Services at the California Department of State Hospitals. He has been Executive Director of the Department of State Hospitals – Coalinga since 2016 and has held several roles there since 2010, including Hospital Administrator, Acting Hospital Administrator, Acting Assistant Hospital Administrator, Acting Director of Quality Improvement, Mental Health Program Supervisor and Standards Compliance Coordinator. Price held several positions at Pleasant Valley State Prison at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2001 to 2010, including Health Program Specialist I, Associate Health Program Advisor, Acting Health Program Specialist I, Health Care Appeals Coordinator and Office Technician. He is a member of the Western Psychiatric State Hospital Association. Price earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $181,656. Price is a Republican.

Jonathan Snow, of Rocklin, has been appointed Deputy Director of Homeland Security at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Snow has been Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2022. Snow was on temporary duty in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2021. He has been Division Compliance/Chief Security Officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2018. Snow was Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Intelligence and Operations at the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2018 to 2022 and a Supervisor there from 2016 to 2018. Snow was Supervisory Special Agent in the Counterintelligence Team at the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2015 to 2016 and Unit Chief in 2015. He was a Special Agent with the National Security and Violent Crimes Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2003 to 2012. Snow was a Team Developer with Alcatel Fiber Optic Cable Systems from 2001 to 2002. He was Manufacturing Manager with SI Corporation from 1998 to 2001. Snow was Environmental Sales and Service Manager with Circle Environmental from 1997 to 1998. He was a Technical Engineer with Amoco Fabrics and Fibers from 1994 to 1997. Snow earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Engineering from North Carolina State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $175,596. Snow is a Democrat.

Myriam Valdez-Singh, of West Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Legislation at the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Valdez-Singh has served as a Deputy Appointments Secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom since 2021. She was Legislative Director in the Office of State Senator Melissa Hurtado from 2019 to 2020. Valdez-Singh was a Legislative and Policy Advocate at Health Access California from 2017 to 2019. She served as a Legislative Aide in the Office of State Senator Holly Mitchell from 2015 to 2017 and in the Office of State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson from 2013 to 2015, where she was a Senate Fellow from 2012 to 2013. Valdez-Singh earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University, Bakersfield and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $141,732. Valdez-Singh is a Democrat.

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.

 

CPUC right to reject AT&T’s request to end landline services – Sacramento Bee

In a commentary to the Sacramento Bee, RCRC Chair, Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez, weighs in on AT&T's request to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to relinquish its "Carrier of Last Resort" designation to provide basic landline telephone service and the potential consequences of other providers seeking to do the same.

 

Shasta tribe to get homeland back in record California land return – Los Angeles Times

Governor Gavin Newsom has set in motion the largest land return in California history, declaring his support for the return of ancestral lands to the Shasta Indian Nation that were seized a century ago and submerged.

 

Diminishing returns: California’s unclaimed bottle deposits hit $820M as recycling centers close – KPBS

Over the last decade, the state lost half of its bottle return recycling centers — there are currently fewer than 1,300 statewide.

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 Judiciary   Status: 6/12/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.   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: 6/3/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.   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 Appropriations   Status: 6/12/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Enrollment   Status: 6/13/2024-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.). In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.   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: 6/18/2024-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   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: 5/29/2024-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 Housing   Status: 6/6/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.   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 Appropriations   Status: 6/12/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Natural Resources and Water   Status: 5/29/2024-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   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 Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/11/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on N.R. & W. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 11). Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   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 Governmental Organization   Status: 6/19/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on G.O.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 3238   (Garcia)   California Environmental Quality Act: electrical infrastructure projects.     Location: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications   Status: 6/12/2024-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.   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 Health   Status: 6/13/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.   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: 6/19/2024-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: 6/3/2024-Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1045   (Blakespear)   Composting facilities: zoning.     Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 6/18/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.   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: 6/12/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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: 6/18/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on INS.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1064   (Laird)   Cannabis: operator and separate premises license types: excessive concentration of licenses.     Location: Assembly B.&p.   Status: 6/3/2024-Referred to Com. on B. & P.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1066   (Blakespear)   Hazardous waste: marine flares: producer responsibility.     Location: Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials   Status: 6/3/2024-Referred to Com. on E.S. & T.M.   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 Emergency Management   Status: 6/18/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1116   (Portantino)   Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits.     Location: Assembly Insurance   Status: 6/3/2024-Referred to Com. on INS.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1143   (Allen)   Household hazardous waste: producer responsibility.     Location: Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials   Status: 6/13/2024-Re-referred to Coms. on E.S. & T.M. and NAT. RES. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.   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 Elections   Status: 6/18/2024-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.   Position:   No Position   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1159   (Dodd)   California Environmental Quality Act: roadside wildfire risk reduction projects.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/20/2024-From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 17).   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 Local Government   Status: 6/19/2024-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.   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 Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/11/2024-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1420   (Caballero)   Hydrogen.     Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 6/20/2024-From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 19).   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  John (1)