Blogs

Evolving Legacy: District Programs Staying Relevant Over Generations

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
By @Morgan Leskody For many special districts, long standing programs are a point of pride. They reflect decades of service, community connection, and institutional knowledge. But longevity alone does not guarantee continued relevance. As communities shift, technologies advance, and expectations around access and inclusion grow, even the most beloved programs must evolve to meet the moment. Across California, districts are reimagining what it means to sustain a successful program over time. Rather than starting from scratch, they are building on strong foundations, layering in new approaches that expand reach, improve accessibility, and invite broader ...

Grants Update: Week of August 24, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
Announcements The next NSDA Lunch & Learn webinar is just 3 weeks away! Join NSDA on September 9, 2026, at 9am PST for Making the Case and Managing the Grant: From Board Buy-In to Post-Award. Many districts face organizational barriers to grants, including limited staff capacity and difficulty securing board support. This session will cover how to make the internal case for a grants program, set realistic expectations for staff time, and understand the requirements of post-award management. Register here ! New Grant Opportunities Department of Agriculture FY 2026 Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFP) WHAT ...

Final Call: 2027 Legislative Proposal Submissions

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti The deadline for 2027 Legislative Proposal submissions is approaching. Districts may submit ideas to create or improve laws affecting all special districts statewide regardless of geographic region or type(s) of service provided. Submissions will be reviewed by CSDA staff and assessed for political implications, potential consequences, cost of implementation, likelihood of success, and other relevant factors. Proposals will then be presented to the CSDA Legislative Committee for consideration. CSDA members are invited to submit a proposal by September 2 for CSDA to consider sponsoring legislation in the 2027 legislative ...

September 16 Webinar Offers Practical Insight into Expansive CARB ACF ZEV Mandate

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
By: @Brittney Barsotti On Wednesday, September 16, CSDA will host a webinar called “2026 Update to CARB ACF ZEV Regulation – What’s New?” The webinar, which will take place from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, is free for CSDA members and $125 for non-members. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation affects all state and local government vehicle fleets, including vehicles owned, operated, and contracted by special districts. On July 30, 2026, CARB published the final draft of their changes to the ACF regulations. Agencies are on the clock to begin transitioning medium and heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). ...

Comment Opportunity: Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Advances Phased Approach to Zone Zero Compliance

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti On Wednesday, August 19, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection held a hearing to adopt emergency findings and final regulatory rules for the Zone Zero “Ember-Resistant Zone .” The Board also considered draft guidance on establishing and maintaining defensible space in Zones 0, 1, and 2. Zone Zero encompasses the first five feet surrounding occupied buildings and structures located within state responsibility areas and very high fire hazard severity zones designated by local agencies. This includes areas around structures and outbuildings, as well as attached decks, stairs, and the spaces beneath attached decks and stair ...

CSDA Advocates to Protect Local Wildfire Recovery Funds

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
By: @Anthony Tannehill CSDA is advocating to protect special districts’ ability to fully recover for wildfire damage from investor-owned utilities as the Governor has proposed that such liability be limited. CSDA’s advocates have been speaking to the administration, legislators, key legislative staff and working closely with aligned stakeholders. Additionally, CSDA has issued a public statement , and reinforced its message of rejecting privatizing profits while socializing costs in venues such as interviews with Sacramento radio station KFBK. While the proposal may contain some provisions that are advantageous to special districts and the people ...

Wildfire Liability Reforms Must Not Burden Californians With Recovery Costs

By Kristin Withrow posted 5 days ago
All comments can be attributed to Neil McCormick, CEO, California Special Districts Association Anticipated legislation to shift risk from for-profit, investor-owned electric utilities (IOUs) and place that burden on publicly-owned, non for profit local agencies – and their constituents – only makes it more difficult for communities to rebuild and fails to put victims first. While the Governor’s office has yet to unveil formal language, communication from the Administration has made it clear a proposal framework exists and will be introduced before the end of this legislative session. Despite claims that it holds for-profit IOUs accountable, CSDA is concerned ...

Where History Lives and Community Gathers

By Morgan Leskody posted 7 days ago
By @Morgan Leskody In the high desert north of Los Angeles, the Antelope Valley Cemetery District serves a purpose that extends far beyond its original mandate. While its core mission remains providing dignified and affordable burial services, the district has quietly evolved into something more: a place where community identity is preserved, shared, and continually renewed. “In many ways, the cemetery is the history book of the community,” says District Manager Linda “Lin” Blanco. And like any good history book, it does more than document the past. It helps people understand their place in the present. That role is increasingly important in today’s ...

What is a Clean Truck Check?

By Morgan Leskody posted 7 days ago
This article was submitted for publication by the California Air Resources Board Clean Truck Check helps ensure that vehicles’ emissions control systems are properly functioning when operating in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards. The program applies to nearly all non-gasoline powered heavy-duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 lbs. that operate on California public roads and highways, including government-owned vehicles. What are the Compliance Requirements for Clean Truck Check? Vehicle owners need to take three steps to comply with Clean Truck Check : report, pay the annual ...

Grants Update: Week of August 17, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 7 days ago
New Grant Opportunities Department of Agriculture FY 2026 Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program: Community Tree Resource Utilization WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to advance solutions to the economic, health, and environmental challenges faced by communities, with a focus on advancing Community Tree Resource Utilization, which can reduce waste and create value by turning wood generated from pruning, removals, storm events, and pest or disease outbreaks into useful products. Click here for more information. WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations, any ...

Closing Soon: Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program Grant

By Morgan Leskody posted 7 days ago
By: @Lilia Hernandez Two weeks ago the State Parks sponsored virtual workshops overviewing the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program grant . Established in 2014, the ORLP program is a federally funded National Park Service’s (NPS) Land and Water Conservation fund involving a competitive layer of reviewal processes that are first completed by the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) , then the state, and finally NPS before applicants can compete nationwide. Approximately $50-$120 million is available in the program, granting between $300 thousand - $15 million per applicant’s requested ...

New California AI Cyber Defense Program

By Morgan Leskody posted 7 days ago
By: @Lilia Hernandez On Monday, August 10, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new executive order as an immediate operational directive for implementation of an AI cyber defense program in California. This order builds upon Executive Order N-12-23, requiring state agencies to evaluate the threats and potential use cases of emerging technology. The Newsom administration later expanded the framework by issuing Executive Order N-5-26 earlier this year, mandating that agencies review state AI procurement structures and supply chain issues. The recent order directs state agencies to establish an AI cyber defense program, strengthen cybersecurity ...

Final Suspense Hearings Clear the Way for End-of-Session Action

By Morgan Leskody posted 7 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti On August 13, the Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees held their final Suspense File hearings of the 2026 legislative year, determining which measures with significant fiscal impacts would advance to the floors of their respective houses. Bills with estimated state costs of $150,000 or more are generally referred to the Suspense File for further fiscal review. The process allows the Appropriations Committees to consider the cumulative impact of proposed legislation on the state budget before deciding which measures will continue through the legislative process. During this review, committee consultants may also work ...

CSDA Legislative Committee Positions on Governor’s Wildfire Liability Proposal

By Morgan Leskody posted 7 days ago
By: @Anthony Tannehill Last week, CSDA’s legislative committee held an emergency meeting to discuss an urgent issue regarding wildfire liability that is expected to be proposed in Sacramento in the final two weeks of the legislative session. The committee chose to oppose certain provisions that are understood to be contemplated by the Governor’s administration and the Legislature. While the language is not yet public, the committee provided guidance to CSDA’s advocates to spotlight the concerns of special districts in any bill or package of bills that may be introduced in the waning days of the 2026 legislative session. While the proposal may contain ...

Scroll Stopping Strategy: Building a Bridge to Your Constituents

By Morgan Leskody posted 14 days ago
By Jennifer Nentwig (APR-M), Principal, Tripepi Smith Originally published in the California Special Districts Magazine. Visit the Member Submitted Content page to become a contributor and share your story with other districts. For many public agencies, social media began as a straightforward tool for transparency and a reliable place to share office closures, holiday hours or press releases. However, as constituents increasingly turn to platforms like Instagram, Facebook or Nextdoor for real-time interaction, there is a growing expectation for agencies to evolve their digital presence into a dynamic, two-way conversation. At Tripepi Smith, we have ...

H.R. 2766 NSDA Plan for Congressional August Recess

By Morgan Leskody posted 15 days ago
By National Special Districts Association T he National Special Districts Association (NSDA) has updated H.R. 2766 resources for a grassroots push during the Congressional August Recess. August is a critical month for the Special Districts Fairness and Accessibility Act of 2026: H.R. 2766 and its Senate companion, S. 2014. NSDA, of which CSDA is a founding member, is asking special districts to help create a unified definition of special districts in federal law, with H.R. 2766 and S. 2014, having reached a pivotal stage in Congress. Download Special Districts Fairness and Accessibility Act Infographic In March, ...

Key Updates from D.C. on Federal Grants and OMB Rule

By Morgan Leskody posted 15 days ago
By: National Special Districts Association The United States Senate adjourned for August recess this weekend following a lengthy Friday, August 7 session that stretched into early Saturday morning. During the session, the Senate passed its continuing resolution (CR) in The Senate also confirmed its “en bloc” package of 74 nominations, including Todd Blanche to be Attorney General, David Cummins for TSA administrator, Hal Duncan to be deputy director of OMB, and Cameron Hamilton for FEMA administrator. Separately, Senate Budget Chair Ron Johnson (R-WI) released the Senate version of Reconciliation 3.0 on Friday, August 7, which would provide ...

Federal Update: Week of August 10, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 15 days ago
Both chambers are out of session for the August recess, with the House returning on August 31 and the Senate on September 14 the next publication will be on August 31. Congress: FY 27 Appropriations: On Monday, August 3, the Senate voted 89-4 on the motion to proceed on the legislative vehicle for a continuing resolution (CR). The Senate CR would fund federal agencies, delay the OMB proposed rule, and provide a clean extension of surface transportation reauthorization through December 11, 2026. The measure also contains a provision delaying the federal ban on certain intoxicating hemp-derived THC products from November 12 to December 11, 2026. ...

Grants Update: Week of August 10, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 15 days ago
New Grant Opportunities Department of Agriculture FY 2026 Housing Preservation Grant Program (HPG) WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program provides grants to qualified organizations to assist low- and very low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. Funds may be used for a range of housing preservation activities, including installing handicap accessibility features and repairing or replacing electrical wiring, foundations, roofs, insulation, heating systems, and water and waste disposal systems. Click here for more information. WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants include state and local governmental entities, ...

Small Steps, Big Impact

By Morgan Leskody posted 21 days ago
By: @Kristin Withrow In advance of his keynote address at the CSDA Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase in Palm Desert this August, keynote speaker Ben Nemtin explained what he’s learned about tackling big goals - and how it can have big impact on public sector agencies. At its core, Nemtin’s philosophy is simple: big goals aren’t achieved in giant leaps. They’re achieved through consistent, incremental action. When Nemtin and his friends created a list of “impossible” dreams—everything from playing basketball with the President to delivering a baby—they weren’t just chasing adventure. They made a commitment that for every item they crossed off ...