Public Banks – Yes or No?
A bill establishing a process for local agencies to create a public bank continues to move through the Legislature. Several amendments have been taken to more closely align private bank regulatory requirements to public
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State Water Board Faces First Legal Test Over Wetlands Definition
On April 2nd the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) issued its final regulations defining the term “wetlands” for California, even though the federal definition remains unclear. Shortly thereafter, the San Joaquin Tributaries Authority
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Sweetened Beverage Bill Tabled, Workers’ Comp Bill Falls Short
Two more job killer bills failed to advance this week in the face of strong concern about their negative impacts. • The author of AB 138 (Bloom D-Santa Monica) announced he will not pursue the targeted
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Senate Health Committee Moves Beverage Warning Bill
The Senate Health Committee yesterday moved a California Chamber of Commerce-opposed mandating a state-only labeling requirement for sugar-sweetened drinks. CalChamber is opposed to SB 347 (Monning; D-Carmel) because it could increase frivolous liability claims
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Landowner Safe Harbor for Endangered Species Act Passes Committees
Assembly and Senate policy committees this week gave approval to California Chamber of Commerce-supported bills extending landowner protections in connection with the state endangered species law. AB 202 (Mathis; R-Visalia) protects landowners from additional
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Defining Wetlands: It’s a Process – Capitol Insider
It was clear toward the end of the March 5 workshop on the proposed controversial wetlands regulations that the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) intends to adopt them at their April 2 board
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New Biological Assessment Released
In an effort to modernize operations of the federal Central Valley Project (CVP), the United States Bureau of Reclamation just released a new biological assessment. The assessment provides an important part of an overall
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More Water in Sierra Snowpack This Year
More water is available in the Sierra snowpack this year than last due to the January storms, according to the state Department of Water Resources (DWR). At the second Phillips Station snow survey of
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California Water Board Backs Plan to Increase River Flows
A state board on Wednesday approved a contentious proposal to boost water flows through a Central California river, a move that would increase habitat for salmon but deliver less water to farmers and cities
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Colorado River in Crisis
It’s another dry year on the Colorado River. The two-decade long drought on the river significantly lowered reservoir levels. Lake Powell is about 48 percent full, and Lake Mead, which is downstream from Lake
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State Water Board Delays Action on River Flows Again
In an unexpected turn of events, after receiving a letter from Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Governor-elect Gavin Newsom, the State Water Resources Control Board again delayed action yesterday on a proposal to
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Federal Legislation Eases California Water Shortages
California’s water future will get brighter with the passage of the bipartisan, comprehensive federal legislation, America’s Water Infrastructure Act 2018 (AWIA). The bill passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives and will very
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Water Board Delays Action on Flows
It’s a small victory, but we’ll take it. The controversial proposal to require higher river flows for improving water quality in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta will not be voted on at next week’s State
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State Water Board Ignores Comments from Regulated Public
The final draft Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan update for the lower San Joaquin River and Southern Delta (Plan) from the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) seemingly ignores hundreds of letters,
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Thirsty? Costs for Water May Continue to Rise
Joaquin Esquivel, a State Water Board Member, came over to the Chamber the other day to chat with us about the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Act established through AB 401 (Dodd, 2015). It directs
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Water Commission Re-Opens Applications for Water Storage Projects
Water Commission Re-Opens Applications for Water Storage Projects
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CalChamber Takes Support Positions on Two Proposed Water Bond Initiatives
The California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors recently voted to support two proposed initiatives dealing with water. THE STATE WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER STORAGE AND CONVEYANCE ECOSYSTEM AND WATERSHED PROTECTION AND RESTORATION, AND
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CalChamber-Supported WaterFix Gains Critical State Approval
The California Chamber of Commerce-supported California WaterFix project has achieved the next crucial milestone on the road to securing the state’s future water supplies. The long-awaited plan to fix the state’s aging water distribution
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CalChamber-Supported California WaterFix Moves Forward
Biological Opinions Are Vital Step in Permitting Process With this week’s release of biological opinions (BiOps) from federal agencies responsible for protecting species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), the California Chamber of
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CalChamber Opposition Helps Stop Two Job Killers in Policy Committees
Opposition from the California Chamber of Commerce and the business community helped to stop two job killer bills in their policy committees this week. AB 479 (Gonzalez Fletcher; D-San Diego) would have exempted feminine
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