The Barbed Wire - October 16, 2026

October 16, 2026 - Read the latest Advocacy News online here

RCRC 2026 Legislative Digest Provides Guide to Latest Legislation Impacting California's Rural Counties

RCRC’s Legislative Digest is a thorough guide to significant bills representing the advocacy efforts of the RCRC Government Affairs staff during the legislative session... Read More

Proposed EMSA Regulations Would Reshape Local EMS Administration

The California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) has proposed a comprehensive update to regulations governing the administration of local emergency medical services (EMS) systems... Read More

Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program Through Fiscal Year 2029

On September 30, 2026, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2026 (S. 5608), to extend the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, through fiscal year (FY) 2029. The SRS program expired on September 30, 2026... Read More

CMS Releases First Rural Health Transformation Program Obligated Funds Report

On October 9, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its first report on state obligations under the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. California obligated the largest dollar amount of any state... Read More

Bulletin Board

Announcements regarding job postings, hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties. View the Bulletin Board Here

Keeping Up

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties. Read Keeping Up Here

Weekly News Clips

Dozens of California dams need repair as El Niño winter draws closer - CalMatters

California’s State Auditor found 57 dams in poor or unsatisfactory condition, including 40 high- or extremely high-hazard dams near densely populated areas. Despite having enforcement authority since 2017, the Department of Water Resources has never imposed punitive penalties on noncompliant dam owners. Repairs could cost an estimated $28 billion, while emergency plans remain incomplete for 245 dams.

AI's water consumption includes surging demand from electricity use - Los Angeles Times

Data center developers have started touting new technologies that slash the amount of water needed to cool hot-running servers in drought-stressed places like Arizona. Those efforts, though, are not addressing the vast majority of the water consumed by the AI buildout.

USDA puts $134M into Northern California rural businesses – Action News Now

USDA highlighted $134.7 million in rural business investments during a roundtable with Rep. James Gallagher in Red Bluff, including funding for Northern California businesses and agricultural producers.

Legislative Update

Click "Read More" to access information related to the current status of legislation impacting California's rural counties. Read More

For a full list of RCRC-tracked legislation, by issue area, use our Legislative Tracking Tool.